 |
| File Reference |
MSP34REF37329
|
| Name |
Frank O'Beirne |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Kilmanagh [Kilnamanagh], Collooney, Sligo
|
| County |
Sligo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Cregg House, Sligo
|
| County |
Sligo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
2565 Broadway, New York City, New York
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
c/o The Gresham Hotel, Dublin
|
| County |
Dublin
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Doonecoy, Templeboy
|
| County |
Sligo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1897
|
| Notes |
Exact date of birth not recorded on file
|
| Date of death |
1978-02-08
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34C534
|
| Civilian occupation |
Farmer's son;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Company Captain
|
| Company |
Collooney Company
|
| Brigade |
Sligo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Alex McCabe
|
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Battalion Commandant
|
| Unit |
Collooney Battalion
|
| Brigade |
Sligo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Liam Pilkington
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Commandant
|
| Unit |
7 Battalion
|
| Division |
2 Western Division
|
| Brigade |
Sligo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Liam Pilkington; Frank Carty
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Commandant
|
| Unit |
2 Battalion
|
| Division |
3 Western Division
|
| Brigade |
South Sligo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Liam Pilkington; Frank Carty
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Divisional Adjutant
|
| Division |
3 Western Division
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Liam Pilkington
|
| 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 6 and 1/2 years service for pension purposes in 1942 at Grade C under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF37329 Frank O'Beirne.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34C534 Frank O'Beirne.pdf |
| File dates |
31 December 1936 - 12 November 1980
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Frank O’Beirne’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA in the service periods between 01 April 1917 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Subject unsuccessfully applied for service in the periods between December 1916 and 31 March 1917. O’Beirne was awarded 6 and 1/2 years service for pension purposes in 1942 at Grade C under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934. Subject unsuccessfully appealed for his grade to be increased to Grade B.
Frank O’Beirne states that he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in 1917 and in December 1917 helped form a company of the Irish Volunteers in Collooney, County Sligo of which he was appointed Company Captain under the command of Alex McCabe (24SP869).
Subject states that he was arrested in January 1918 while in charge of a section of Ballisodare Company, Irish Volunteers who were protecting local Sinn Féin Club members involved in commandeering land “for the poor people”. Applicant claims that he was charged with unlawful assembly and sentenced to three months imprisonment. Frank O’Beirne served his sentence in Sligo Prison and Dundalk Prison, County Louth and was released in April 1918 under bail on orders of Michel Brennan (O/C Prisoners) to organise his local area in the fight against conscription. In the 1918 period, he claims that he was engaged in drilling; training; attending officers training camps conducted by Colonel JJ O’Connell (24SP12702) at Sligo Wanders Club, Sligo; recruiting members; the seizure of arms and the 1918 General Election campaign. Subject claims that he was promoted to Battalion Commandant of Collooney Battalion, Sligo Brigade, Irish Volunteers/IRA in July 1918 under the command of Liam Pilkington.
In January 1919, the applicant states that he was arrested for collecting in aid of Irish Volunteers and sentenced to three months imprisonment. He was released from Sligo Jail in in late April 1919 and claims that he took part in the destruction of Beltra Barracks and Collooney Courthouse and forming Republican Courts (Summer 1920).
During the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921), Frank O’Beirne remained Battalion Commandant of 7 Battalion, Sligo Brigade, IRA under the command of Liam Pilkington (to April 1920) and Frank Carty (April 1920 to July 1921). Subject claims that he organised and took part in a large number of IRA operations. There are some discrepancies between his application form, his Advisory Committee interview and a seven page supplementary statement he provided. It is unclear in some cases whether Frank O’Beirne took part in actual IRA attacks or was involved in the organising of these operations and there are handwritten notes in red on his supplementary statement with notes such as “abortive”, “see oral, not in it”, “planned” and “not vd” [verified].
In the 1920 period, the applicant states that he took part in escaping under fire in Glenn, Geevagh from British military and police who were trying to locate a civilian prisoner whom the IRA had charged with larceny (Summer 1920); was under fire during retreat from Carrick on Shannon after abortive attack on barracks (September 1920); was mobilised to prevent possible reprisals on Tubbercurry Road on night of Chaffpool ambush (debate whether he was present) (30 September 1920); attack on Dromore West Barracks (October 1920); ambush of British forces at Old Rock (October or early November 1920) skirmish with RIC at Carricknagat (October 1920); escaping under fire with P O’Brien from house of Bertie Alcock (no date); planning major ambush of British forces at Carricknagat which did not take place as the British forces were too large (figures of 4-5 and 10-12 lorries of soldiers given) (November 1920); attack on Ballymote Courthouse and RIC Barracks (December 1920) and sniping of Dromore West RIC Barracks (December 1920).
In the 1921 period, the subject states that he was engaged in an attack on Ballaghaderreen Barracks with H Breheny, M McLoughlin and Alex McCabe (February 1921); attack on British forces at Old Rock (February 1921); planning attack on Collooney Barracks (but did not take part as he was in bed with fever and tonsillitis) (20 March 1921); planning hold up of train at Ballisodare during which two policemen were shot (applicant was present nearby but did not take part in actual operation) (19 April 1921) and organising attempted hold up of train at Ballygawley (26 May 1921).
Frank O’Beirne was arrested on 26 May 1921 after the planned hold up of train at Ballygawley. He was court-martialled, charged with IRA membership and possession of firearms and documents and sentenced to penal servitude for life. He says that two others arrested with him - a 15 year old boy and two men - were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each. Further claims that all three were beaten and kicked by British soldiers while in their custody. On night of 28 April 1921, Frank O’Beirne escaped from Sligo Jail with other IRA officers Charles Gildea (MSP34REF30117) and Tom Deignan (MSP34REF22643). At the first critical date (11 July 1921), the Brigade Committee records supplied state that Frank O’Beirne was Battalion Commandant of 7 Battalion, 1 Sligo Brigade, IRA with a strength of over 300 men.
During the Truce period, the subject states that he attended an IRA training camp at Glenasmole, Dublin Mountains and organised IRA training camps in Cabragh and Cloonamahon (County Sligo). Claims that he was in training camps for 3-4 months in total. He also states that he was engaged in making dugouts and re-organising all IRA units his battalion area. Frank O’Beirne then did full-time garrison duty in Collooney Barracks and mentions that the Divisional Headquarters were in [Cloonkeavin] where subject claims that he organised a “bomb factory”.
At the second critical date (01 July 1922), the Brigade Committee confirmed that Frank O’Beirne was Battalion Commandant of 2 Battalion, South Sligo Brigade, 3 Western Division, IRA with a strength of over 300 men. Taking the anti Treaty side in the Civil War, the subject states that he took part in the burning of Market House, Collooney and capture of National Army troops (July 1922); attack on National Army soldiers at Markree Castle (July 1922); capture of National Army lorry (16 men and rifles) at Collooney (July 1922) and ambush of National Army at Dooney Rock and capture of armoured car “Ballinalee” (July 1922).
Frank O’Beirne states that he took part in the defence of Collooney from a large scale attack by National forces under command of Sean McKeon (July 1922) which lasted nearly a full day. Subject was captured on same day but eescaped from Athlone Prison on 15 August 1922 with eight others. Frank O’Beirne says that he re-joined an IRA Active Service Unit (ASU) at brigade headquarters at Tubbercurry and took part in sniping operations against National forces at Collooney and Ballysodare.
Subject states that he took part in ambush of National forces at Beltra when Paul Geoghegan (DP7033) was killed (08 September 1922); attack on Ballymote Courthouse when J Durkin [John Durcan] (DP1488) was killed (13 September 1922) and a further operation at Arigna. Applicant claims that he was involved in making plans to recapture Collooney from National forces when a large scale engagement took place at Benbulbin Mountain during which Divisional Adjutant Brian MacNeill and other IRA men were killed [18 – 20 September 1922]. Frank O’Beirne claims that he was promoted to Divisional Adjutant of 3 Western Division, IRA following the death of Brian MacNeill in September 1922. [The date of this appointment has also been given as December 1922 on file].
In the late 1922 and early 1923 period, the subject states that he attended IRA command meetings in Newport, County Mayo and took part an engagement with National forces at Newport when Michael Kilroy (MSP34REF839) was captured [November 1922]. He says that was a member of IRA Executive and appointed Acting Divisional Commandant of 3 Western Division, IRA following the arrest of Liam Pilkington [in mid 1923].
Subject states that he was arrested in about July 1924 and held for one week. On 28 October 1925, records on file show that Frank O’Beirne was charged under Treasonable Offences, Act and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in the Central Criminal Court, Dublin.
File includes completed application form; typed transcript and summary of a sworn statement given before the Advisory Committee by the applicant on 07 January 1937; representations by JP Brennan (1941; 1942), Martin Brennan (1941) and JP Brennan and James Duffy (1942); references in support of his claim by Alex McCabe (1942); Colonel JJ O’Connell (1942) and Thomas Ruane (1942) and handwritten notes of discussion with IRA Brigade verifying officers on 06 January 1942 and 16 June 1942 and South Sligo Brigade [verifying officers] on 13 October 1942. File also contains handwritten notes of discussion with applicant on 02 December 1942 in regard to his appeal for a higher grade/rank (“no change recommended”).
File further includes copy of typed letter from JP Brennan to “all pension applicants” stating that Father William Pilkington (Billy Pilkington) had deputed Dr [Martin] Brennan to act on his behalf relating to pension queries for South Sligo and all parts of 3 Western Division IRA (28 June 1937) and a typed copy of statement of Dr [Martin] Brennan’s IRA military service [1937].
File also contains a typed letter dated 19 October 1941 from Charles Gildea in which he disputes a number of Sligo IRA men’s accounts and pension awards. He maintains that he organised and arranged the escape from Sligo Jail on 29 June 1921 which was claimed Frank O’Beirne; suggests that O’Beirne “always had a sore throat when there was anything on in his battalion area”; advises that O’Beirne was “known as a bit of a showman who has the distinction of never leading his men into action in the Tan war” and was “severely reprimanded as a result of his conduct at the time of his arrest” in 1921 for being “caught” playing ball “along the main road” with no scout resulting in the loss of his and two comrades arms and ammunition. In the same letter, Charles Gildea brings into question the IRA military service of Dr [Martin Brennan], questions why Thomas J Keane (Leitrim, Chaffpool) received a military service pension as he allegedly had received a grant of £135 from British government for being a “Southern Irish Loyalist;” disputes the service of Michael Connolly (Powelshore, Chaffpool) and mentions James Hunt who was trying to establish a case for his cousin William Spellman. Gildea also questions the amount of award received by IRA veterans Thomas S McCarrick (6.5 years) and Sean Ginty (6 years and 2 months) ( who “never fired a shot in the Tan war”).
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