 |
| File Reference |
MSP34REF29926
|
| Name |
Teresa O'Brien |
| Gender |
female |
| Maiden/Other names |
Moane
Treasa Uí Bhriain
Ó Briain
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Streamstown, Westport
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Louisburgh
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
“Deenish”, Victoria Avenue, Cork
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Ceanncora Park, Bohernamanagh Road, Cork
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Notes |
no information on file
|
| Date of death |
1978-02-08
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34D1986
|
| Related files |
MSP34REF50 - Éamonn Moane TD, subject's brother
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Battalion Commandant
|
| Company |
Westport Branch
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
self
|
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Captain
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
self
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
D |
| Notes |
Awarded 3 and 11/24 years of service for pension purposes in 1942.
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF29926 Tessie O'Briain.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34D1986 Tessie O'Briain.pdf |
| File dates |
16 November 1934 - 31 October 1980
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Teresa O’Brien/Tessie Ó Briain's receipt of a military service pension in respect of her service with Cumann na mBan which was successful for the service periods between 1 April 1918 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and the Civil War. She also claimed unsuccessfully for service in all other periods between 1 April 1916 and 30 September 1923.
Tessie Ó Briain states she joined the Westport branch of Cumann na mBan in 1915, was Captain from the start and was engaged in routine activities and was trained in intelligence work. She states she gathered valuable intelligence including gaining admission to Murrisk Police Barracks where she ascertained the quantity of arms and ammunition stored there. She claims she organised 12 branches in 1, 2 and 3 Battalions and along with Miss Cashell started a branch in Louisburgh, 4 Battalion. She states she took dispatches to Michael McHugh in Castlebar, and conveyed arms and ammunition from him to her brother Éamonn Moane, Officer Commanding of Westport Brigade. She claims she was trained by Jim Flaherty in the use of arms, took Morse Code and signalling lessons, and under the instruction of Joe McBride, made contact with the Post Office Staff in Westport. Applicant and references state she subsequently received instructions to set up a District Council and was appointed its President, and Officer Commanding of the Brigade Area. In November 1918 she was prosecuted and sentenced to 14 days for collecting money for Fianna Éireann under false pretences. Her brother was arrested in the German Plot Round-up at this time. She states she attended the Cumann na mBan Convention in Dublin, attended meetings regularly, and was engaged in propaganda work for the General Election. She also states she was sworn in by Tomás Ó Deirg (Tom Derrig) as a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), and was required occasionally to provide members with suitable locations for meetings.
Throughout the War of Independence applicant states she collected funds, procured arms and ammunition, attended District Council meetings, visited prisoners, delivered and received messages from same, carried dispatches (her house was a dispatch centre) and procured food and supplies for IRA men. Having become known to authorities, she states she was refused entry to see prisoners in Galway jail, was ordered to leave Galway, was escorted to Athenry by Black and Tans (Royal Irish Constabulary / RIC), and on arrival home to Westport was raided by police and military. She claims from this point she was accosted by Westport “Tans” (RIC), was in continuous personal danger and was on one occasion beaten with whips. She states that partly owing to her activities, her husband was arrested on 24 November 1920, tortured for information and had to be detained for treatment in Renmore Military Hospital for 13 weeks. Along with Nurse Walsh she states she took care of bodies brought to Westport Barracks after the Kilmeena Ambush including that of James McKevilly. At this time her house in Streamstown, Westport was being raided twice weekly and she was forced to go on the run.
In the Truce period applicant states she organised dances to raise funds, supervised the activities of all branches in her area, and assisted in cleaning arms in a dump.
During the Civil War Period, applicant states she lived in Louisburgh. She claims their new car was seized by Free State Forces (National Army) by order of Joe Ring, and her husband arrested. She says she continued to carry dispatches, coming under crossfire regularly in the process, was often searched but no dispatches ever found. Her house was used by IRA Brigade and Divisional Officers constantly, for whom she catered and supplied clothes and where she stored seized goods for Peter McDonald, Jack Fehan and her brother. She also put up wanted IRA men in early summer of 1923, and when the National Army came into her area she closed it and went on the run for several months, remaining active until the end of 1923.
File includes: original handwritten material submitted and signed by Tessie Ó Briain in support of her application; representations made on behalf of claimant by R[ichard] Walsh, TD (10 March 1937), and by Private Secretary to Mr Flinn, Parliamentary Secretary (16 April 1941); handwritten and typed statements regarding claimant’s service activities from M McHugh, Joseph McBride, Tomás Ó Deirg, TD, Eadhmon Moane, TD, Michael Kilroy, Annie Kilroy, Eilís Uí Chonaill, PJ Kelly (27 October – 6 December 1941); typed transcript of sworn evidence given by claimant before Advisory Committee on 16July 1937 and summary of same; handwritten notes relating to discussions held with Miss L Kennedy, Mr Kilroy, Mr Moane [verifying officers] regarding claimant's service and activities (19 June 1939 – 1 February 1938) and material relating to the settlement and closure of claimant's service pension following her death on 08 February 1978 - partly closed for reasons of data protection.
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