|
|
 |
| File Reference |
MSP34REF11986
|
| Name |
Margaret Ryan |
| Gender |
female |
| Maiden/Other names |
Moloney
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Kilcullane, Hollycross, Kilmallock
|
| County |
Limerick
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1893
|
| Date of death |
1983-03-01
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34E6351
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
3 Battalion
|
| Company |
Bruff Branch
|
| Brigade |
East Limerick Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Sean Wall; D. Hannigan; Sean Forde
|
| 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 1 11/12 years service for pension purposes in 1942.
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF11986 Margaret Ryan.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E6351 Margaret Ryan.pdf |
| File dates |
14 August 1935 to April 1983
|
| Subject Information |
Files relate to Margaret Ryan’s successful claim for a military service pension in respect of service rendered during the period 1 April 1920 to 31 March 1923. She was not successful in attaining recognition for earlier services performed during period 1 April 1918 to 31 March 1920. During the period under scrutiny, Ryan was known by her maiden name, Moloney and she lived with her mother.
In connection with her application for a military service pension, Ryan attended an interview with members of the Advisory committee, 29 May 1940. A summary of the interview is held on file along with a full transcript. These documents present an account of Ryan’s service in Cumann na mBan from 1918 to late 1923. Ryan claims that during 1918 to 1919, she was a member of the Herberstown Branch, Cumann na mBan. For the main, Ryan claimed involvement in the following areas; branch activities (fund raising, lecture, meetings) and providing assistance to men of the mid and East Limerick columns by allowing them to meet at her house – she also claims that she provided food on these occasions. She claims that she met Seán Wall on a daily basis as she was a ‘special confidante’. Other men noted as being in regular contact with Ryan included D. Cremins, E. Tready, Seán Forde and Tom Howard. In her interview, she recalled delivering a dispatch to D. Hannigan ‘under fire’ and on two occasions, drove arms in a car covering a distance of ten to twelve miles, and bombs between mid and east Limerick. Ryan also claimed involvement in the Dromkeen ambush and Lackelly ambush – she claimed that the bodies of those killed at Lackelly were brought to her house, and she was involved in the movement of the bodies and the burial of same at a place called Loughcur.
Ryan’s case was supported by James P. O’Connor, R. O’Connell, Robert Ryan TD, Martin O’Dwyer, Tadhg Crowley, David Cremins and Seamus Moloney. All aforementioned endorsed some of Coyne’s claims in their letters addressed to the Military Service Pensions Board in 1940. Moloney recalled meeting Ryan who was carrying a bag on bombs on that occasion and recalled that when a military car appeared on the scene ‘her coolness and courage saved us all from arrest and the ammunition from capture’. Cremins’ notes that Ryan was considered a ‘dispatch rider’ who operated between the Mid Limerick and East Limerick Brigade ‘in the tan days’.
File includes: pension application prepared and submitted by Ryan; summary of interview held May 1940 along with a full transcript. Files also contain paperwork regarding the progress of Ryan’s application and eventual award of pension payments. There is also some paperwork on file regarding the death of Mrs. Ryan and the winding up of her estate by family members – this paperwork is closed.
|
|
