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| File Reference |
MSP34REF35546
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| Name |
Brigid Brawn |
| Gender |
female |
| Maiden/Other names |
Feehan
Bridget
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Rossow, Newport
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Bridge Street, Westport
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
The Quay, Westport
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1892-04-26
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| Date of death |
1979-05-02
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E5960; DP45782
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
2 Battalion
|
| Company |
Newport Branch
|
| Brigade |
1 Brigade (West Mayo)
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
James Gibbons; E. Lyons; Josie Doherty
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
E |
| Notes |
Awarded 2 and 2/3 years service for pension purposes in 1942
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF35546 Brigid Brawn.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E3960 Brigid Brawn.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP45782 Brigid Brawn.pdf |
| File dates |
15 November 1934 - 11 February 1980
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Brigid Brawns’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of her service with the Cumann na mBan in the service periods between 1 April 1920 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, the Truce period and Civil War. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 1 April 1917 and 31 March 1920.
Brigid Brawn (née Feehan) states that three of her brothers - Hugh Feehan; Jack Feehan (Divisional Quartermaster) and Pat Feehan (34E6958 – file not found) – were active with the IRA in County Mayo.
In the 1918-19 period, the applicant claims that she hosted in her home an Irish Volunteer named Brennan, for several weeks, who had fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and was evading arrest.
Attached to Newport Branch, 2 Battalion, 1 Brigade (West Mayo), Cumann na mBan, it is stated that the applicant took part in general Cumann na mBan activity during the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921) including: intelligence work; dispatch work; fund-raising; organising dances and concerts and supplying food, clothes, accommodation and other comforts to the ‘Flying Column’ (Active Service Unit).
During the Truce period (July 1921 – June 1922), Brigid Brawn claims that she visited and cooked for IRA training camps at Shramore, County Mayo and Connemara, County Galway.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923), the applicant states that she took part in similar activity including transporting arms, ammunitions and explosives. In 1922, references on file state that Brigid Brawn carried a verbal dispatch from Agnes Gallagher (MSP34REF3344), Westport, County Mayo to Mrs. Kilroy that National Army troops surrounding Newport, County Mayo. The subsequent battle led to the deaths of National Army Captain Ruddy (2D331), Lieutenant Walsh (2D330) and three other Free State soldiers. Anti-Treaty IRA Commandant Michael Kilroy (MSP34REF839) was wounded and taking prisoner by the National Army.
Brigid Brawn states that she often escorted General Headquarters (GHQ) from Dublin – such as Kathleen McLoughlin, [Rosheen] O’Doherty, Miss Phoebe Plunkett, Miss Brady – to Divisional staff Tom Derrig or P. McDonnell across long distances “through wet, marshy land and bog as they could not go through Newport or Westport when the [Free] State troops were there”. Further states that she tended to Commandant McDonnell who was laid up with pneumonia at [Rozo House]. Also claims that Brigid Brawn arranged for a meeting between the anti-Treaty IRA Divisional O/C and Fr. Conroy and Fr. Dean Macken to try to arrange peace terms between both parties when Joe Baker’s ‘Flying Column’ (Active Service Unit) was to be “executed at the request of both priests”.
Material on file shows that Brigid Brawn married her husband on 15 June 1927. He died on 17 September 1965.
File includes signed handwritten and typed statements regarding subject's service from John Connolly (1937); PJ O’Donnell (1937; 1940); Michael Kilroy (1937); E. Moran TD (1938); Annie Kilroy (Undated; 1940); Teresa Moane Ó’Briain (Undated); Michael Gallagher (Undated; 1940). Also contains a typed summary and sworn statement made by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 11 March 1938. An internal hand-written note (28 November 1941) noted that “the Feehan’s and McDonnell’s were all mixed up in this area and it would be well to take the families together – if possible”.
File also contains material relating to Brigid Brawn’s successful application for a Special Allowance including a completed application form; doctor’s notes and handwritten reports from Social Welfare investigating officers regarding applicant’s financial circumstances (1968-76) – closed. Representations were made on behalf of the applicant by Michael Ó Moráin TD (1968).
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