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| File Reference |
MSP34REF265
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| Name |
Sean Gaynor |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Ballynaclough, Nenagh
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| County |
Tipperary
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Tyone, Nenagh
|
| County |
Tipperary
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1894
|
| Date of death |
1964-03-08
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34A31; 1RB115;
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| Related files |
MSP34REF385 (Mary Kathleen Gaynor, wife); MSP34REF7582 Thomas Joseph Lawless
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Company Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
North Tipperary Battalion
|
| Company |
C Company
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Frank McGrath;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Battalion Adjutant
|
| Unit |
North Tipperary Battalion
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Frank McGrath
|
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Brigade Adjutant
|
| Brigade |
1 Tipperary Brigade (North Tipperary Brigade)
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Frank McGrath;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Adjutant
|
| Brigade |
1 Tipperary Brigade (North Tipperary Brigade)
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Frank McGrath;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Officer Commanding
|
| Brigade |
1 Tipperary Brigade (North Tipperary Brigade)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Divisional Adjutant
|
| Division |
3 Southern Division
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael McCormack; Sean Moylan;
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Divisional Officer Commanding
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| Division |
3 Southern Division
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Liam Lynch
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Divisional Adjutant
|
| Division |
3 Southern Division
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Matthew Ryan; Denis O'Neill
|
| 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 |
A |
| Notes |
Awarded 8 and 1/4 years service at Grade A for pension purposes in 1941 following original award of 8 and 1/4 years at Grade B granted in 1936.
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyWMSP34REF265SEANGAYNOR.pdf
Scanned/digital copyW34A31SEANGAYNOR.pdf
Scanned/digital copyW1RB115SEANGAYNOR.pdf |
| File dates |
1 February 1933 - 23 October 1998
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Sean Gaynor's receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the Irish Volunteers and IRA for part or all of the service period between 1 April 1917 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 1917.
File also relates to Sean Gaynor's unsuccessful application for an award under the Army Pensions Act, 1932.
Sean Gaynor served as a Company Officer Commanding and a Battalion and Brigade Adjutant with the Irish Volunteers from 1917 to 1919. From 1919 to 1923 he served as an IRA Brigade Adjutant, Divisional Adjutant and Divisional Officer Commanding. In March 1918 Sean Gaynor was arrested and imprisoned by the British authorities for three months for illegal drilling and wearing a uniform. As a Battalion and Brigade Adjutant Gaynor was heavily involved in organisational work and arms raids for the Irish Volunteers and IRA. In early 1920 he also organised and/or took part in the destruction of evacuated RIC barracks in his brigade area as well as the raiding of Income Tax offices. He also organised or took part in IRA attacks on Borrisokane RIC Barracks (June 1920), attack on British forces at Letteragh, County Tipperary (September/October 1920) and the shooting of a British Army [Lieutenant Hambleton] at Lisatumney (November 1920). Sean Gaynor states that he was appointed Officer Commanding 1 Tipperary Brigade IRA in July 1920. During 1921 he participated in or was involved in planning of IRA operations and attacks on British forces at Modreeny (sic), Cloughjordan, County Tipperary and the killing of RIC District Inspector Biggs at Newport, County Tipperary in May 1921. Sean Gaynor was appointed Divisional Adjutant on the formation of 3 Southern Division IRA in July 1921. In [November] 1921 during the Truce period, Gaynor was appointed Officer Commanding Kilkenny Barracks and served in that post until the Army split in March 1922 following which he was ordered by Liam Lynch to take over Birr Barracks for the anti-Treaty IRA forces. Sean Gaynor states that he was in Dublin at the outbreak of the Civil War on 28 June 1922 and while there was appointed Divisional Officer Commanding 3 Southern Division IRA. He served in this position until [November] 1922 when he was succeeded by Matthew Ryan and became Divisional Adjutant again. Following Matthew Ryan's death in [March] 1923 he again became Divisional Officer Commanding until his capture and arrest by National Army forces the following April. He was subsequently interned until [December] 1923 and during his period of internment took part in a hunger strike for twenty six (26) days.
File features some discussion as to whether Sean Gaynor was actually appointed and serving as Officer Commanding 3 Southern Division at the outbreak of the Civil War and as to whether this was a temporary or permanent appointment. Originally granted a service pension at Grade B i.e. as a Divisional Officer in 1936, Gaynor accepted this but appealed in 1938 submitting further evidence to support his claim for Grade A as a Divisional Officer Commanding on 1 July 1922. This appeal was accepted and the revised award was granted in 1941.
File includes: handwritten and typed material submitted and signed by Sean Gaynor in support of his service pension application and appeal; signed handwritten and typed statements and letters regarding subject's service and service pension application from Sean Moylan TD and Patrick Ryan (Lacken); typed transcripts of sworn statements and evidence given before the Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 by Sean Gaynor on 8 May 1935 (3 pages), 27 November 1935 (8 pages) by Patrick Hogan on 12 November 1935 (1 page), by Sean Daly on behalf of Thomas Joseph Lawless on 19 December 1935 (2 pages), by Paddy McDonnell with reference to Sean Gaynor on 21 April 1936 (1 page), and by Captain Tom Burke in respect of Sean Gaynor on 29 April 1936 (2 pages); handwritten initialled note dated 22 December 1938 from W. R. and addressed to Mr. Egan and Mr. Horgan querying what course of action to take following Gaynor's application to appeal his original service pension award with handwritten reply dated 24 December 1938 and initialled J. J. H. stating that 'Mr. Burke' recommends hearing the evidence as [Sean Gaynor] "...is a Senior Officer and helpful to the Advisory Committee. If we refuse point blank he in turn might refuse his help to the Committee." ; material relating to subject's tax affairs; and material relating to Sean Gaynor's son - closed.
Material relating to Sean Gaynor's application under the Army Pensions Act, 1932 includes: signed handwritten statements from Frank McGrath, Frank Flannery, Sean Moylan TD and Denis O'Neill; and copy typed letter of 26 June 1933 from Lili O'Donnell (Mrs. Peadar O'Donnell) to the Secretary, Army Pensions Board regarding her request of a Dr. John O'Donnell of Merrion Square to visit Sean Gaynor while Gaynor was on hunger strike in Mountjoy Prison and Dr. O'Donnell's report to the writer regarding Gaynor's condition following his visit to him.
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