|
|
 |
| File Reference |
24SP13121
|
| Name |
Joseph McDonnell |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Mrs Reeves, 14 Ailesbury Road, Dublin
|
| County |
Dublin
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Killonan, Caherconlish
|
| County |
Limerick
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Dr. J Liddy, 72 Templeogue Road, Terenure, Dublin
|
| County |
Dublin
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
30 Trees Road, Mount Merrion, Dublin
|
| County |
Dublin
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Killonan, Ballysimon
|
| County |
Limerick
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1897-03-17
|
| Date of death |
1971-12-23
|
| Place |
Regional Hospital, Limerick, Ireland
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
24A1708; DP37728
|
| Civilian occupation |
Labourer;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
4 Battalion (Caherconlish)
|
| Company |
Killonan
|
| Brigade |
Mid Limerick Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
David Hennessy; Liam Forde; Sean Carroll
|
| Organisation |
Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces |
| Rank |
Private
|
| Unit |
Civil Guard Active Service
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Patrick Brennan
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
Yes |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
Yes |
| Grade |
A |
| Notes |
Awarded 2.576 years service for pension purposes in 1927
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copy24SP13121 Joseph McDonnell.pdf
Scanned/digital copy24A1708 Joseph Mc Donnell.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP37728 Joseph McDonnell.pdf |
| File dates |
17 November 1924 - 13 February 1987
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Joseph McDonnell’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA and National Forces in the service periods between 1 April 1921 and 31 March 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 1 April 1917 and 31 March 1920. The Board of Assessors recognised service between 01 April 1921 and 30 September 1923, see MSP2 file.
Joseph McDonnell claimed membership of the Irish Volunteers and the IRA from 1916 onwards.
On Easter Sunday 1916, the subject states that his Company of Irish Volunteers were mobilised at Castleconnell, County Limerick but did not see military action.
Attached to Killonan Company, 4 Battalion (Caherconlish), Mid Limerick Brigade, IRA and later the Active Service Unit (ASU) of Mid Limerick Brigade, it is stated that the applicant took part in a number of IRA operations and general activity in Limerick during the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921) including: an attack on a train carrying British Army soldiers at Killonan (no date); an attack on Crown Forces at Lackelly (no date) and an attack on Crown Forces at [Shraharloe] (no date).
Applicant joined the Civil Guards at Ballsbridge, Dublin on 28 February 1922. After one month, he states that he was transferred to the Transport Section and then in April 1922 to Kildare Barracks.
Following the June 1922 anti-Treaty IRA attack on the Four Courts, Dublin, the applicant volunteered for active duty. From August to November 1922, Joseph McDonnell served with the armed ‘Civil Guard Active Service’ under the command of [Colonel Commandant] Patrick Brennan (24SP2483). Subject claims that his main duties were to drive a four-ton lorry carrying National Army soldiers to outposts in Kildare, Carlow and Dublin; transporting material for the construction of bridges and driving Patrick Brennan to inspect outposts and patrol work.
On one occasion, McDonnell states that he took part in the capture and arrest of a number of armed ‘Irregulars’ (anti- Treaty IRA).
In October 1922, the applicant claims that he was transferred to Dublin Castle. He resigned from the Civic Guards (Garda Síochána) in April 1924.
Official correspondence within the file state that the applicant has no record of service with the National Army but the Board of Assessors did find as fact that Joseph McDonnell rendered his services in the period 1 July 1922 to 31 March 1923.
File includes: original handwritten material submitted and signed by Joseph McDonnell in support of his service pension application; original signed handwritten and typed statements regarding subject's service from Patrick Brennan TD; Joseph McDonnell; Richard O’Connell TD; Captain Patrick McCormack; undated unsigned handwritten notes [of evidence given Joseph McDonnell before the Board of Assessors, Military Service Pensions Act, 1924]; and material relating to the settlement and closure of Joseph McDonnell’s service pension account following his death on 23 December 1971.
Material on file shows that Patrick Joseph McDonnell married Ellen McDonnell (née Hassett) on 16 November 1930.
File also contains material relating to Joseph McDonnell’s successful application for a Special Allowance including: completed application form; medical report; doctor’s notes; and handwritten reports from Social Welfare investigating officers regarding applicant’s financial circumstances (1963-67) – closed.
Also contains a hand-written letter from J. McGrath, manager, Annacotty Co-operative Creamery, Lisnagry, County Limerick stating that the applicant was employed as a lorry driver up until to 31 March 1963 when he left due to medical issues.
Representations were made on behalf of the applicant by D. O’Malley TD (1964) and Donnchadh Ó Briain TD (1964). File includes a hand-written reference in support of the subject’s claim from David Hennessy TD (1965).
|
|
