|
|
 |
| File Reference |
MSP34REF53687
|
| Name |
Nora Kelly |
| Gender |
female |
| Maiden/Other names |
Gallagher
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Gortnaclasser, Clogher, Westport
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1904-06-20
|
| Date of death |
1988-09-04
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34E4955; DP20401
|
| Related files |
MSP34REF35665, DP47135 - John Kelly, subject’s husband
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Company |
Brockagh Branch
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Patrick Kelly; Michael Gallagher; Willie Ryce; John Kelly
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
Yes |
| Type of Award |
SPASpecial Allowance (DP file)
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
E |
| Notes |
Awarded 2 and ¼ years of service for pension purposes in 1941.
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF53687 Nora Kelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E4955 Nora Kelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP20401 Nora Kelly.pdf |
| File dates |
3 December 1936 - 28 November 1988
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Nora Kelly’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 1920 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 1917 and 30 September 1923.
Nora Kelly states she joined the Brockagh branch of Cumann na mBan in 1918, was Vice President from the start and was engaged in routine activities including collecting funds, organising dances and attending First Aid lectures. Her father and three brothers were in the Irish Volunteers, later the IRA, and her sister was also in Cumann na mBan but did not claim.
Throughout the War of Independence Kelly states her house was situated half way between Westport and Newport and was a regular place of call for members of the Active service Unit (ASU) for whom she found billets including her own house. She claims she attended two wounded men with Dr Madden following the Kilmeena ambush [19 May 1921], attended McKevley for a few days in her own house, carried dispatches to Newport several times and collected funds for the ASU under the leadership of her cousin Michael Gallagher. She alleges the house was raided by “Tans” (Royal Irish Constabulary / RIC) and claimant was apparently threatened.
In the Truce period applicant states she attended meetings and lectures and continued with other routine Cumann na mBan activities.
During the Civil War Period, applicant states she carried dispatches and continued collecting funds for the ASU and for IRA prisoners. She claims that in November 1922 she gave warning that Connolly’s ASU was about to be surrounded and while some were captured including her brother, most escaped. She also states that her home was then raided, a visitor, [Patrick] Mulchrone (DP6228), shot dead and the house wrecked. She claims she came under fire in Newport while delivering a dispatch from Westport. It appears she was continuously engaged in catering for 10 men in her own house and organised billeting for 20 to 30 more in the surrounding area.
File includes: original handwritten material submitted and signed by Nora Kelly in support of her application; handwritten notes relating to discussions held with Mr Moane, Mr Kilroy, Mrs Moane O’Brien, Miss Knight [verifying officers] regarding claimant's service and activities (17 May 1939 - 19 November 1940); handwritten and typed statements regarding claimant’s service activities from E Moane, TD, Michael Kilroy, Michael Gallagher and John Connolly (19 November 1937 - 18 March 1938); typed transcript of sworn evidence given by claimant before Advisory Committee on 11 March 1938 and summary of same; material relating to her application for and awarding of a Special Allowance under the Army Pensions Acts, (paid from 5 February 1952 until her death) including medical reports and representations from Michael Moran, TD (20 July 1953 - 10 January 1958) and material relating to the settlement and closure of claimant's service pension following her death on 04 September 1988 - partly closed for reasons of data protection.
|
|
