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| File Reference |
MSP34REF35178
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| Name |
Brigid Morahan |
| Gender |
female |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Mount Gordon, Castlebar
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
11 Marian Road, Castlebar
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1891-01-18
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| Date of death |
1977-01-28
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E8354; DP27595
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Branch Secretary
|
| Company |
Castlebar Branch
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
James Chambers; John Chambers; P. Horkan; Mark Killilea
|
| 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 1/12 years service for pension purposes in 1943
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF35178 Brigid Morahan.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E8354 Brigid Morahan.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP27595 Brigid Morahan.pdf |
| File dates |
31 December 1935 - 4 August 1977
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Brigid Morahan’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of her service with Cumann na mBan 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 1 April 1916 and 31 March 1920.
Brigid Morahan states that joined the Castlebar Branch of Cumann na mBan in County Mayo in 1915. Claims that she served under the command of J. Hoban and was standing to during Easter Week 1916 but had no action.
The subject states that her mother ran a public house on Castle Street, Castlebar, County Mayo and that they were able to pick up bits of information about raids from British Army soldiers (Scottish Border Regiment) who drank there. Brigid Morahan claims that she took two rifles from a British soldier which she passed onto Michael Staunton. Further states that she procured ammunition six times which gave to James Chambers (MSP34REF2993)
Brigid Morahan states that her husband L. Morahan was active with the IRA.
As Branch Secretary of Castlebar Branch Cumann na mBan, it is stated that the applicant took part in general Cumann na mBan activity under the command of James Chambers (MSP34REF2993) and John Chambers (MSP34REF2995) during the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921) including: fund-raising; intelligence work; dispatch work; rendering first-aid to IRA men John Chambers (MSP34REF2995), Michael Hughes (MSP34REF4334), James Swifte and Thomas Hughes who were wounded at Kilmeena ambush (19 May 1921) and helping to move P. Kenny, who was wounded near Ballyhaunis, from Castlebar Hospital to home of John McGowan and nursing the patient for three weeks.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War, Brigid Morahan claims that she served under the command of P. Horkan (MSP34REF17795) and Mark Killilea (MSP34REF12183) procured four rifles and 300 rounds of ammunition from friendly National Army soldiers; helped to move Dr. M. Mullen (Dublin), wounded outside Castlebar Post Office, to Dr. Hopkins for treatment; providing the rope which led to the successful prison escape from Castlebar Jail of her husband L. Morahan, P. Blayney from Westport and M. Mulkerins/ Mulkerrins from Westport; transferred 14 boxes of explosives from Castlebar Railway Station to Derrywash; provided information which led to the capture of three National Army offices and their arms at Clonkeen, Castlebar; the information which led to National Army soldiers being ambushed at Frenchill; the information which led to a military outpost at Castlebar Railway Station being attacked three to,es; the information which led to the National Army being “beaten off” in an attempted round up at Hollyhill, Castlebar and the information which led to National Army soldiers being captured at Baloor, Castlebar.
The subject states that she received information from her brother-in-law, a signalman at Castlebar Railway Station, that the National Army were advancing on Newport with plans to surround IRA forces. She claims that she took a dispatch to Mark Killilea (MSP34REF12183) which saved the lives of the IRA men and led to a successful attack and disarming of National Army soldiers in an armoured train.
File also includes typed and hand-written references in support of the subject’s claim from Edward Moane TD (1937; 1942); Mark Killilea TD (1937; 1938; 1941): Richard Walsh TD (1937); James Chambers (1938; 1941; 1942); Patrick Horkan (1941); Thomas Hughes (1941); James Swifte (1941); Michael Hughes (1941); Thomas Maguire (1942); Michael Kilroy (1942) and JA Tierney (1942). Representations were made on behalf of the applicant by Michael Moran TD (1939; 1942). File also contains a typed sworn statement and summary of evidence made by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 19 November 1937.
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