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| File Reference |
MSP34REF3953
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| Name |
Sean Lynchehan |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Polranny, Achill Sound, Westport
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1891-04-27
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| Date of death |
1969-11-13
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34C173; DP9607
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| Related files |
DP5510 (Thomas Lynchehan, brother)
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Company Captain
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| Unit |
2 Battalion
|
| Company |
K Company (Achill)
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Section Leader
|
| Unit |
Liverpool Battalion
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael O'Leary; Tom Kerr
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Active Service Unit
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| Division |
4 Western Division
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| Brigade |
5 Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Seamus Gaughan
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Commandant
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| Unit |
4 Battalion
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| Division |
4 Western Division
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| Brigade |
5 Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Anthony Farrell (Brigade Commandant); Michael Henry; Bartley Hegarty
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| 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 |
C |
| Notes |
Awarded 5 and 5/6 years service for pension purposes in 1936
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF3953 Seán Lynchehan.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34C173 Seán Lynchehan.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP9607 Seán Lynchehan.pdf |
| File dates |
26 September 1934 - 26 January 1970
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Sean Lynchehan’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA in the service periods between 1 April 1920 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 23 April 1916 and 31 March 1920.
Sean Lynchehan states that he joined the Irish Volunteers in County Mayo in 1914 under the command of Daniel Figgis and Anthony McNamara (MSP34REF3580). Claims that he was absent from active service due to rheumatic fever from 1 April 1916 until 31 August 1916.
The subject claims that he was appointed Company Captain in September 1916 and took part in the anti-Conscription Campaign (1918) and was in charge of 200 Irish Volunteers on the day of the General Election (1918).
Sean Lynchehan states that he moved to Liverpool, England in November 1919 and was transferred to the Liverpool Battalion, IRA under the command of Michael O’Leary (Company Captain) (24SP10288), Tom Kerr (Battalion Commandant) and Hugh Early (Battalion Quartermaster) (MSP34REF746). Reference Charles Barrett (MSP34REF18700) claims that he worked alongside the applicant procuring arms and ammunition from all available sources. He told the Advisory Committee (22 May 1935) that:
“There was no special fund. You bought it out of your own pocket or got it anyway you could. There was a sort of a tentative promise that we would be compensated. We never were.”
During the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921), Sean Lynchehan states that he took part in a raid on marine stores in Liverpool (1919) and collected money outside churches on Sunday mornings for the Sinn Féin Club.
On 27 November 1920, the applicant claims that he led a section of IRA men during the major operation to burn down warehouses along the Liverpool Docks. It is stated on file that £1,000,000 worth of damage was caused. Reference Charles Barrett (MSP34REF18700) states that one IRA Volunteer named Fowler [Matthew Ginnetty DP1758] was caught on the night and was nearly “kicked to death” by an angry mob. Further claims that a young man was accidently shot in the melee.
Sean Lynchehan states that he was arrested by the authorities on 27 December 1920 and interned in Ballykinlar Camp, County Down until 10 December 1921. His Commanding Officers in Ballykinlar were Edward McCormack (MSP34REF47531), Leo Henderson (MSP34REF60142) and Frank Duffy.
The applicant claims that he returned to Achill, County Mayo after his release from prison and re-joined his old unit. During the Truce period, Sean Lynchehan states that he was appointed Battalion Commandant, 4 Battalion, 5 Brigade on 10 February 1922 and went into to the barracks full-time.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923), the applicant states that he was attached to the Active Service Unit (ASU), West Mayo Brigade and took part in an ambush of National Army troops at Delphi, County Mayo and sniping at National Army posts at Mulranny and Achill (both County Mayo).
Sean Lynchehan claims that he remained on the run until 16 July 1926 when he was arrested and detained in Sligo Prison until 24 August 1926.
Material on file shows that Sean Lynchehan married Annie Lynchehan (née Lavelle) on 1 January 1927. The applicant died on 13 November 1969, his widow had died on 6 January 1954.
File includes a hand-written reference in support of the subject’s claim from Miceal O Laoghaire (1935). Representations were made on behalf of the applicant by Pádraic Ó Máile (1935); Richard Walsh TD (1945); PA Calleary TD (1955) and M. O Morain TD (1959).
File also contains a sworn typed statement made by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 22 May 1935 and sworn typed statements made on behalf of the subject by Charles Barrett (22 May 1935); Ed Moane TD (19 May 1936; 10 June 1936) and Michael Kilroy (10 June 1936).
File also relates to the subject’s unsuccessful applications for a Special Allowance including completed application form; service certificates; medical reports; hand-written and typed statements; doctor’s notes; completed and blank handwritten reports from Social Welfare investigating officers regarding applicant’s financial circumstances and other material.
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