|
|
 |
| File Reference |
MSP34REF4588
|
| Name |
Michael Leahy |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
3671 Leland Street, San Pedro, California
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Ballywilliam, Cobh
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Haulbowline, Cobh
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Lake Road, Cobh
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
The Honan Home, Montenotte, Cork
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Notes |
Date of birth not on file
|
| Date of death |
1973-05-24
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34B9;
|
| Related files |
MSP34REF27872 Frances Leahy - subject's sister;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
4 Battalion
|
| Brigade |
1 Cork Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas McCurtain; Terence MacSwiney;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
4 Battalion
|
| Brigade |
1 Cork Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Terence MacSwiney; Sean Hegarty;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Vice Officer Commanding
|
| Brigade |
1 Cork Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Sean Hegarty;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Purchases Department
|
| Division |
General Headquarters
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Liam Mellows; Liam Lynch; Liam Deasy;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Officer Commanding
|
| Brigade |
1 Cork Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Liam Deasy;
|
| 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 |
B |
| Notes |
Awarded 8 and 3/4 years service for pension purposes in 1935
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyWMSP34REF4588MichaelLeahy.pdf
Scanned/digital copyW34B9MichaelLeahy.pdf |
| File dates |
14 December 1934 - 27 September 1973
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Michael Leahy'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 periods 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.
Michael Leahy claims membership of the Irish Volunteers from prior to 1916 and states that he was mobilised for the 1916 Easter Rising but had no active service during the week. He was subsequently arrested on 3 May and interned until 13 July 1916. In March 1918, while serving as a Battalion Officer Commanding Michael Leahy was arrested and imprisoned by the British authorities until September of that year for illegal drilling. From 1918 as well as serving as a Battalion Officer Commanding and later as Vice Brigade Officer Commanding he took part in and/or acted as officer commanding in a number of Irish Volunteer and IRA operations and attacks. These included: the capture of a Coast Guard patrol boat in Cobh and British military patrols (1919); attack on Ballyquirke aerodrome (1919); attacks on RIC barracks at Carrigtwohill, Cloyne and Castlemartyr (1920). In August 1920 Michael Leahy was arrested by the British authorities - on the same occasion as Terence MacSwiney was arrested - but released after five days imprisonment. In January 1921 Michael Leahy was appointed to the staff of the Purchases Department of IRA General Headquarters under Liam Mellows. Following this appointment he states that he travelled to Italy and France in connection with IRA attempts to purchase and import arms. In June 1921 he returned to his position within the IRA in County Cork and during the Truce period was involved in IRA training camps and the take over of British military and police posts. He also claims to have taken part in the IRA operation to capture the British ship "The Upnor" and seize her cargo of arms for IRA use in March 1922. Following the resignation of Sean Hegarty, Michael Leahy became Officer Commanding 1 Cork Brigade IRA and took part in the Civil War in the Munster area against the National Army forces until October 1922. In October 1922 following medical advice in respect of tuberculosis contacted by him Leahy ceased duties as Brigade O. C. and in December 1922 travelled to the United States of America where he spent the rest of the Civil War collecting funds for the IRA and speaking at Clan na Gael meetings.
File includes: material signed and submitted by Michael Leahy in support of his service pension application; typed transcript (3 pages) of sworn statement made by Michael Leahy on 17 May 1935 before the Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934; material relating and referring to Michael Leahy's service with the Defence Forces during the Emergency (Second World War); material referring to subject's various civilian employment positions between 1935 and 1965; and material relating to Michael Leahy's executor and the settlement and closure of his service pension account following his death on 24 May 1973 - partly closed for reasons of data protection.
|
|
