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| File Reference |
MSP34REF59710
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| Name |
Margaret O'Dowd |
| Gender |
female |
| Maiden/Other names |
Maguire
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Cross,
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
Drumshiel, Cong
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1902-02-27
|
| Date of death |
1963-04-26
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| Place |
Western Regional Sanatorium Galway
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E7315; DP18347
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| Related files |
DP54445 Thomas Maguire, brother
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Unknown
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| Unit |
2 Battalion
|
| Company |
Cross Branch
|
| Brigade |
South Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Maguire
|
| 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 2 ¾ years of service for pension purposes in 1942.
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF59710 Margaret O'Dowd.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E7315 Margaret O'Dowd.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP18347 Margaret O'Dowd.pdf |
| File dates |
20 May 1941- 14 June 1963
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Margaret O’Dowd 's receipt of a military service pension in respect of her service with Cumann na mBan which was successful for the service periods between 1 April 1919 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and the Civil War. She initially appealed both the periods of service granted and the rank awarded (she claimed rank of Captain), but withdrew her appeal in order to receive some award, due to financial pressures.
Margaret O’Dowd states she joined the Cross branch of Cumann na mBan in 1918, helped organise branches in Cross and Cong and was engaged in collecting funds, attending First Aid lectures and carrying dispatches occasionally.
Applicant’s brother, Thomas (Tom) Maguire was Officer Commanding firstly for the local Brigade and later Division and throughout the War of Independence O’Dowd states she catered for IRA men attending meetings in the house, and for several who stayed. She also claims she did scout and guard duty while they were present and stored and conveyed arms. Claimant mentions she was in charge of five branches of Cumann na mBan (Cross, Cong, Neale, Kilmaine and Clonbur), which she visited regularly, she arranged for dispatch centres in each district and appointed women them. Her own house was centre for important dispatches which she took care of. In October 1920 Tom Maguire went on the run. Claimant states she continued to receive dispatches which she carried to him, delivering others for him to different officers, and meetings continued to be held in the house. Prior to the Partry ambush (March 1921) applicant states she brought arms and ammunition to the mobilisation point, and following the ambush her house was burned down and she went on the run. Claimant stayed on touch with the Active Service Unit and when her brother was wounded at Tourmakeady she stayed with him nursing him, and moving with him until the Truce.
In the Truce period claimant states she visited all branches under her control helping to organise them, visited camps regularly, sent them food, and collected funds for the IRA.
During the Civil War Period, applicant states she was official dispatch carrier for the Division, carried dispatches between units in the Division and between Divisions, met General Headquarters dispatch carriers and escorted them and escorted men to and from meetings some of which were being held in her house. This work was mainly carried out at night-time. Applicant also nursed Christy Macken in Leenane, after he was wounded in Tourmakeady (October 1922) and when her brother Tom escaped Jail in June 1923 she nursed him and accompanied him to meetings. This continued until December 1923. Another brother John Maguire was executed during the Civil War, on 11 April 1923 (no other details on file).
Claimant worked as a Sub - Postmistress in Cong Post Office and was suspended from duty in October 1942, arising from a question of missing Post Office Monies. Correspondence on file between Department of Defence and Department of Posts and Telegraphs relates to provision of the Military Service Pensions Act 1934 for such an eventuality. As irregularities were suspected but insufficient evidence was available, the Department of Telegraphs raised no objection to pension being awarded.
File includes: original handwritten material submitted and signed by Margaret O’Dowd in support of her application; representations made on behalf of claimant by Thomas Collins (18 June 1943), Richard Walsh, TD (8 August 1942) and Bernard Commons, TD (23 January 1950); typed correspondence between Department of Defence and Department of Posts and Telegraphs in relation to claimant’s dismissal as sub-postmistress (5 March 1943 – 2 July 1943); handwritten and typed statements regarding claimant’s service activities from Vincent Corcoran, S De Búrca [Burke] and Richard Walsh, TD (5-7 January 1942); typed transcript of summary of sworn evidence given by claimant before Interviewing Officer on 9 January 1942; material relating to her unsuccessful application for a Special Allowance under the Army Pensions Acts (based on her claim that she fractured her wrist falling from a bicycle while being attacked by British military), including medical reports and representations from M Donnellan, TD (November 1949) and Seán MacBride (August 1949) and material relating to the settlement and closure of claimant's service pension following her sudden death on 26 April 1963 - partly closed for reasons of data protection.
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