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| File Reference |
MSP34REF385
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| Name |
Mary Kathleen Gaynor |
| Gender |
female |
| Maiden/Other names |
Powell
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| Address detail |
| Street |
Curralea, Nenagh
|
| County |
Tipperary
|
| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
c/o Dr. HF Powell, Nenagh (Uncle's Home)
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| County |
Tipperary
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Ballinaclough, Nenagh
|
| County |
Tipperary
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Tyone, Nenagh
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| County |
Tipperary
|
| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1897-12-08
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| Date of death |
1969-09-27
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E7858
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| Related files |
MSP34REF265 (Sean Gaynor, Husband)
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
7 Battalion
|
| Company |
Roscrea Company
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| Brigade |
1 Tipperary Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Miss O'Byrne
|
| 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 3 and 3/4 years service for pension purposes in 1942
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
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| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF385 Mary K Gaynor.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E7858 Mary K Gaynor.pdf |
| File dates |
6 October 1934 - 22 April 1970
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Mary Kathleen Gaynor’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of her service with Cumann na mBan in the service periods between 1 April 1919 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War.
Mary Kathleen Gaynor (née Powell) states that at least one of her brothers was active with the IRA. The applicant later married Sean Gaynor (MSP34REF265), Divisional Adjutant and Divisional O/C of 3 Southern Division, IRA.
References on file state that Mary Kathleen Gaynor was originally from Curralea / Curraleigh, Nenagh, County Tipperary. She was employed first as an assistant teacher in Ballinaclough, Nenagh, County Tipperary and then in Roscrea, County Tipperary. The subject lived mainly with her uncle Dr. HF Powell who was Medical Officer for the British Army and RIC in Nenagh, County Tipperary.
In the early years of the War of Independence, Mary Kathleen Gaynor states that her and her three sisters used to cater for up to 20 IRA men belonging to the IRA ‘Flying Column’ (Active Service Unit) of Sean Collison (John Collison) (2D387).
Attached to the Roscrea Branch, 7 Battalion, 1 Tipperary Brigade, Cumann na mBan, it is stated that the applicant took part in general Cumann na mBan activity during the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921) including: first-aid training from Dr. Courtney, Nenagh and dispatch work.
Through her uncle Dr. HF Powell, Mary Kathleen Gaynor was able to acquire useful information concerning upcoming Crown Forces raids and round-ups which she passed onto IRA Intelligence Officer Austin McCurtain (2D495). On order from the IRA’s Brigade Commanding Officer, the applicant “nominally” resigned from Cumann na mBan in August 1920 to avoid coming under suspicion and to focus on intelligence work.
The subject’s first-cousin was married to a Dr. Murray and through him was also able to procure valuable information. In June 1920, Mary Kathleen Gaynor claims that she found out in advance of the IRA’s planned attack on Borrisokane Barracks, County Tipperary that Cloughjordan Bridge, County Tipperary was being guarded by British Army soldiers. She informed the IRA and they travelled a different route to the Barracks to avoid capture. Further claims that she received information that the RIC were traveling to a court in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary. This directly led to the Modreeny ambush at which four RIC were killed and a number were injured. The applicant was “sent into Nenagh railway station to observe the result : she saw four coffins there”.
Mary Kathleen Gaynor claims that she became the Brigade’s “special dispatch carrier” and all collected all dispatches from Dublin from “Quinlan” in Roscrea and delivered them to “Hickey” in Nenagh or Brigade Headquarters. Further states that she traveled six times to Dublin to help transport ammunition back to Tipperary with (future husband) Sean Gaynor (MSP34REF265).
In March 1921, her home was raided by a Crown Forces “murder gang” who were looking for her brother who was an IRA member. After successfully getting him out of the house, one of the raiders “placed his revolver” on her “chest in a vain endeavor to elicit information” and fired several shots over her head. Mary Kathleen Gaynor claims that the raid began at 2am and lasted until 6am.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923), the applicant states she was in the Clarence Hotel, Dublin when fighting broke out and was ordered by Sean Moloney “to go down the country and do what she could”. Mary Kathleen Gaynor states she established a line from “Field Headquarters at Fermoy to Division Headquarters of 3 Southern Division” from July 1922 until April 1923. In total, she had 40 dispatch riders covering “the distances between Fermoy, Nenagh and Tullamore”. Further claims that she catered for IRA men from the ‘Flying Columns’ (ASU) of Matt Ryan (DP24208) and Joe Mannion.
In March 1923, the National Army launched a surprise attack on the Divisional Headquarters during which Sean Daly was injured and [Joseph] Mangan (DP9608) was killed. The applicant claims that she visited injured IRA men in Nenagh Hospital and received information about the whereabouts of hidden Divisional Headquarters correspondence which she recovered safely.
Following a second National Army attack on the Divisional Headquarters, then located at Foilduff, County Tipperary, Matt Ryan (Divisional Commanding Officer) (DP24208) and John Sheehy (Divisional Intelligence Officer) were fatally wounded. References on file state that the applicant traveled six miles through “rough, mountainous” terrain to get word to the men of the impending attack but arrived too late.
In 1924, Mary Kathleen Gaynor claims that her family was forced to sell their farm which resulted in two brothers and two sisters emigrating to the United States of America.
References on file state that the applicant lost her job as a National Teacher due to her Republican politics in 1922 and was not re-instated until 1932.
Reference Katherine Barry-Moloney (MSP34REF4179) wrote:
“I can conscientiously affirm that in all my dealings with Mrs. Gaynor from July 1922 – September 1924 I found her courageous, enthusiastic and extremely efficient in carrying out the many and varied demands made upon her in the service of the Irish Republic”.
File includes signed handwritten and typed statements regarding subject's service from Katherine Barry-Moloney (1936); Mairead Ní Brous (1936); Sean Gaynor (1940); Frank Flannery (Undated) and [?] Naughton (Undated). Representations were made on behalf of the applicant by Senator William Quirke (1934) and Dan Breen (1934). File further contains a typed summary and sworn statement made by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 12 October 1940. File also contains correspondence between Sean Gaynor and the Association of Old Cumann, 196 Pearse Street Dublin (1942).
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