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| File Reference |
MSP34REF20650
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| Name |
Sean O'Donovan |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
15 Marino Crescent, Clontarf, Dublin
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| County |
Dublin
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
"St Michael's", 315 Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin
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| County |
Dublin
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1893-07-26
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| Notes |
Date of death not recorded on file
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34SP21244
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| Related files |
MSP34REF9265 (Kathleen O'Donovan, wife)
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| Civilian occupation |
Veterinary Student;
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Police Officer
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| Brigade |
3 Cork Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Charles Hurley
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| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
No |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF20650 Sean O'Donovan.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34SP21244 Sean O'Donovan.pdf |
| File dates |
08 December 1935 - 21 July 1970
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Sean O’Donovan’s unsuccessful applications for a military service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934. Applicant claimed membership of the Irish Volunteers and the IRA in the service periods between 01 April 1916 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Subject was awarded a Service (1917-1921) Medal in 1945, information held on file.
Sean O’Donovan states that he joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913. He claims that he was attached to Lyre Company, 2 Battalion, West Cork Brigade, Irish Volunteers under the command of James Walsh in Easter Week 1916. Subject states that he marched from Clonakilty to Inchigeelagh where they were reviewed by Terence MacSwiney (DP19903) and Tomás MacCurtain (DP22353). He claims that he returned home on Easter Monday and ‘stood to’ awaiting orders for the remainder of the week. Sean O’Donovan states that he was arrested by the authorities on 05 May 1916 and detained in Cork Jail; Richmond Barracks, Dublin; Wakefield Jail, England and Frongoch Camp, Wales until late August 1916.
Sean O’Donovan states that he took part in breaking up British army recruitment meetings in Clonakility (Palm Sunday 1916) and studied in the Dublin Veterinary College from October 1916 to December 1916 and from January 1917 to March 1917. While in Dublin, the applicant claims that he was a member of F Company, 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers under the command of Liam Archer (24SP1019) and Frank McCabe (MSP34REF17411). Subject states that he did work for General Headquarters (GHQ) Dublin (especially Michael Collins DP23755) by transporting documents from place to place. He also says that Sean Hyde (MSP34REF16364) was engaged in this work.
Returning to Cork, Sean O’Donovan was promoted to Battalion Commandant, 2 Battalion, 3 Cork Brigade, IRA in early 1919 under the command of Tom Hales (MSP34REF2074) (Brigade Commandant) and Charles Hurley (1D189). During the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921), the subject states that he took part in visiting companies; organising work; collecting arms; arms raid on Ring Coastguard Station and outpost duty for attack on Timoleague Police Barracks. Subject states that he was arrested on 18 March 1920 and detained in Cork Jail, County Cork; Belfast Jail, County Antrim and Wormwood Scrubs, England until 15 June 1920 when he was released after hunger strike. On his return, the applicant states that he was promoted to Brigade Police Officer (O/C Police) of 3 Cork Brigade, IRA under the command of Charles Hurley and claims that he took part in the transfer of arms from Dublin and organising company police officers. Sean O’Donovan states that he was arrested in February 1921 and held in Ballykinlar, County Down until December 1921 when he was released as part of the general amnesty for IRA/republican prisoners under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
During the Truce period, Sean O’Donovan states that he was active in Clonakility under the command of James Hurley before moving to Dublin in April 1922 where he became attached again to F Company, 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA from April 1922 under the command of Tom Merrigan (MSP34REF46499).
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War, the subject claims that he carried a dispatch from Barry’s Hotel to IRA forces in Crooksling, County Dublin; worked alongside GHQ officers Harry Boland and Oscar Tryanor (MSP34REF236) in Barry’s Hotel and was active in Hickey’s (IRA outpost), Earl Street under the command of Sean O’Moore (MSP34REF21454) and later acted in charge with P Mullen towards the end of the week. Sean O’Donovan states that he evaded arrest but was captured in late July 1922 at Marino Crescent and was interned in Newbridge Camp, County Kildare and Mountjoy Jail, Dublin until November 1923.
At the time of application (1935), Sean O’Donovan was employed as Assistant Veterinary Inspector for Dublin Corporation at £750 per annum. He also served as a Senator.
File includes typed copies of letters of reference from EB Ua Ceallaigh (20 February 1922), Joseph Lynch (03 March 19222), M McCartan (04 March 1922), Sean O Liathain (03 February 1922), Oscar Traynor (14 February 1922) and JF Craig (16 February 1922); typed summary of sworn evidence given by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 30 January 1932; handwritten notes of discussion with battalion verifying officers on 17 March 1942 and 01 September 1942; 21 October 1942 and material relating to subject’s successful application for a Service (1917-1921) Medal.
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