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| File Reference |
MSP34REF60416
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| Name |
Rena Cahill |
| Gender |
female |
| Maiden/Other names |
Rena Ring
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| Address detail |
| Street |
Drummindoo, Westport
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| County |
Mayo
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
1 Westenra Terrace, Monaghan
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| County |
Monaghan
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Notes |
Date of birth not recorded on file
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| Notes |
Date of death not recorded on file
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34SP61499;
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| Related files |
2D273 Michael Joseph Ring – subject’s brother;
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
None |
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
No |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copy34SP61499 Rena Cahill.pdf
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF60416 Rena Cahill.pdf |
| File dates |
28 June 1945 – 13 May 1947
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Rena Cahill’s unsuccessful military service pension application. Rena Cahill née Rena Ring claimed for service with Westport Branch, 3 Battalion, West Mayo Brigade, Cumann na mBan in the service periods between 1 April 1916 and 11 July 1921.
Rena Cahill claimed that prior to the 1916 Easter Rising she had carried messages for Joseph McBride. At the end of the week of the Rising she claims that with the assistance of an unnamed sympathetic railway worker she was able to travel on the train carrying Irish Volunteer prisoners (including her brother Michael Joseph Ring) from Westport to Castlebar and pass parcels to the prisoners.
Rena Cahill claimed that following the Rising and during 1917 and 1918 she: collected and raised funds; sent parcels of food, clothing, cigarettes etc. to prisoners; and secured arms etc. belonging to her brother following his arrest and until his release.
Following the killing in Westport of Resident Magistrate John Charles Milling in March 1919, subject claimed that she moved a rifle, ammunition and hand grenades belonging to her brother Michael Joseph Ring from the family home at Drummindoo to Altamount Street, Westport. Between 1919 and the end of the War of Independence on 11 July 1921 subject stated that she moved from her family home to live with an aunt in Westport. She also claimed that she: did despatch work; carried arms, ammunition, explosives and chemicals for the IRA; was regularly in contact with her brother, other IRA members, and the IRA active service unit to which he belonged; passed on intelligence given by an RIC District Inspector Maguire to a Roman Catholic Priest Father Patterson and despatches and war equipment carried by rail by rail workers named Paddy Daly and Sean Bannon; brought food, comforts and first aid equipment to IRA men and units. It is also stated that her family home at Drummindoo was used for at least one IRA meeting in later 1920 and was burned by British forces as a reprisal in early 1921.
Rena Cahill stated that in the final months of the War of Independence she was under heavy surveillance from British forces, subject to frequent searches etc and thus found it more difficult to carry war material or food to IRA members outside Westport. Despite this she claimed that she continued with her activities as much as possible. Rena Cahill did not claim for any service after the Truce of 11 July 1921 although some references indicate that she continued her activities during the Truce period. Subject and references also state that Rena Cahill had suffered from “nerves” and ill health as a result of her activities.
File includes: original handwritten and typed material submitted and signed by Rena Cahill in support of her service pension application; typed transcript of sworn evidence given by Rena Cahill, Michael Kilroy and John Gibbons before the Referee and Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 on 12 July 1946 (17 pages); handwritten memoranda/notes signed by [] Gill, Seamus Robinson and John McCoy of the Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and dated 12 July and 15 July 1946 indicating their belief that the [Military Service Pensions Act, 1934] does not apply to Rena Cahill; representations on subject’s behalf from Michael Cahill, husband of Rena Cahill and Erskine Childers T D , Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of Local Government; two page handwritten letter dated 25 July 1946 from “Brodie Malone” (James Malone), Military Hospital, Collins Barracks, Cork to “Dear Rena [and] Michael” stating the writer’s willingness to assist Rena Cahill with her military service pension application, discussing his health, reminiscing about the past and former comrades and stating his wish to return to Mayo again; signed handwritten and typed statements regarding subject’s service from Edward Moran, Thomas J Hevey, P J Kelly, James Malone, Edward Moane and Liam J Malone; typed transcript (3 pages) of sworn evidence given by Rena Cahill before the Referee and Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 on 1 January 1947; handwritten and typed summary of sworn evidence given by “Mrs T O’Brien” on 7 March 1947; handwritten notes/summary of sworn evidence given by “Capt B Malone” and “T Hevey” on 2 April 1947 regarding subject’s service; typed and handwritten memoranda and notes dated 2 and 3 April 1947 from Tadhg Mac Firbisigh, Referee, and Seamus Robinson, John McCoy members of the Advisory Committee regarding whether Rena Cahill had the active service required to qualify under the legislation; and recycled file cover relating to Teresa McMonagle, C/o Mrs Batten, Rathmullen, County Donegal.
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