Information Required Irish Volunteers January 2026

Hi,

I hope you’re well.

I’m emailing to enquire about Dennis Spriggs, who was shot and killed by British forces in 1921. I just wanted to get a bit more insight into his death. A British officer claimed that he tried to escape from their custody and was subsequently shot, as per cairogang.com.

I appreciate it’s a pretty impossible task to verify what happened a century on, but as experts in Irish history, I was hoping for any potential theories you may have on this particular incident.

What is the likelihood that the British officer in question fabricated his report? Could it have very easily been the case that this was a cold-blooded execution and that he didn’t try to escape at all?

The reason for my specific interest in this is that I believe Dennis was an acquaintance of my great-grandfather, Daniel Hallinan, so I just wanted a clearer picture of how his life in the IRA was.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks,
Paddy Hayes

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi,

Through tracing some of my mums family we have learned her dad was in the old IRA  post WW1. He lived in Randlestown so I’m presuming 3rd northern circa 1920-1935 Can you ping me in the direction of somewhere that can help?

Thank you
Jimmy Lahiff

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To whom it may concern,
I enjoyed reading your article 23rd July 1914 by Joe Healy.
I am an Irish man, writing Historical Novels and living in France. I find my access to Irish resources limited because I live in France. I am currently working on a novel that has Alice Stopford Green and Darell Figgis in it. Would you be so kind to find me one of your historians to contact me via this email address about these memorable characters that so little has been recorded about, yet played vital roles in the Irish cause.
Yours faithfully,
Malachy Fivey

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi

Please find a link to a photo taken at the International Hotel, Belfast 26th April 1969.

Front row: Sean Kelly, Joe Cullen, Roger McCorley, Seamus McKenna
Back row: Joe Billings, Hugh Corrin, Charlie Ryan, Tom Brady, Jim Ryan.

My grandfather is Seamus McKenna who died in 1972.

Please pass on to anyone who might be interested in particular families.
Seamus`s military account is available online on the Bureau of Military History. https://bmh.militaryarchives.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1016.pdf#page=46
He died when i was 9 years old but i have memories of the annual Mass and get together that my Dad brought me to, one being in Terenure.
Seamus wife Teresa, my Godmother was in Cumann Na Mban.

It would be great to hear from anyone who is interested in this.

Kind Regards

Gearoid McKenna

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HI
Mary Devereaux was my great grandmother and I would love some more information on her if possible .
My name is Desmond Lennon
She was my fathers grandmother

Thanks in advance
Des Lennon

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Chara.
FUI.
With reference to a photo I found online under your email address, I would like to point out that the date stated for President De Valera visit to Enniscorthy  for the 50th anniversary could not be correct.
I was present at that guard of honour inspection as a young boy and my  father , John Joseph O’Brien is to be seen 3rd from the near end of the front row. Unfortunately, my Father had already died 8 years before 1966. (1958)
I can not suggest on what date this event Occurred but it was definitely not 1966.
Please understand that this is not a criticism of your site. I am delighted to see the photo again.

yours respectfully
Joseph O’Brien

Hello,
my grand uncle above, known as “Mick O’Byrne”, was an IRA Volunteer during the Irish War of Independence.

According to family folklore, he had a “price on his head” and the Black and Tans tried to hunt him down – unsuccessfully.

I don’t see his name on the Military Pensions database.
He died on 25-Apr-1929 aged just 35.  He was married at the time so perhaps his widowed wife did not apply for a pension ?
He was a farmer.

Is there any way of identifying him in the military records ?

Paul OReilly
——————————————————————————————————————-

Hi, I am trying to find an email address or contact information for an American Author called Rosalie Popick. I  read in 2011 that she was writing an autobiography of George Gilmore of Howth Dublin,  a republican and connected to the Republican Congress. As a niece of his, I wonder if you may know if a book materialised.  Many thanks, Susan
_______________________________________________________________

Good Morning

I am researching my Irish family history, and have a strand of that research relating to a great uncle who voluntered and served with the old IRA

My father was an Irishman from County Kerry, who came to England in the mid 1950’s. He met and married my mother in England.He sadly died in 1964, when I was 5 years old

My great uncle, brother of my paternal grandfather was called Thomas Clifford. He was born on 25th June 1891 in the Castlemaine area. His parents were Patrick Clifford, a National School teacher, of some years, and some standing in the Castlemaine area, and Martha Boyle

There is mention by my first cousins that Thomas Clifford was a member of the IRA
I understand the family moved at some point to Lambes Terrace or Cottages, Ballymullen, Tralee.
These dwellings were opposite the barracks in Tralee. I am told the military authorities came looking for him one night at his home, ‘but the bird had flow’

There is a far stronger evidence trail of his IRA membership recorded in the obituary of his father Patrick Clifford
The Kerryman newspaper dated  Friday 20th May 1938, page 7, amongst other tributes, records Thomas Clifford as a prominent member of the Old IRA

Would anyone within your oranisation be able to help me in providing any information you may have avialable about Thomas Clifford and any Old IRA service and activities

Are you able to give advice on any reading sources I may be able to access about the Old IRA in County Kerry, and the unit organisation in the Tralee area

I do wonder also, whether my Great Grandfather, Patrick Clifford, had any links to the Old IRA, bearng in mind the full content and context of his obituary

Many thanks in anticipation of any help or advice you can provide

Michael Clifford

Hello

My grandfather, Patrick Kehoe, Skeeter Park, Wexford (22/2/1893) was a Sinn Fein Captain for Barntown circa 1916.

He was arrested in Wexford according to newspaper Free Press dtd 13/5/1916 and again according to newspaper Free Press dtd 30/12/1916 was released from Frongoch Camp and arrived back in Wexford.

He is listed in the 1916 Sinn Fein Handbook amongst the 203 Prisoner moved from Richmond Barrack on 8/5/1916 to Stafford. There is an old group photo of the POW held at Stafford Prison and from which we have identified our Patrick Kehoe (attached group shot and smaller close up shot).

There is another Free Press newspaper article dtd 28/9/1918  titled “an interesting recruit” (attached) which states he joined the navy and best known for his connection with the Sinn Fein movement and that he was captain of the Barntown Corps of the Irish Volunteers, and after Easter Week 1916 he was arrested and deported.

Also, Sean Sinnott mentions him in his 1968 interview with Rev Seamus S de Val as does Sean Whelan in his Bureau Military History Witness Statement BMH.WS1294.pdg (page 4)

Mysteriously this September 1918 article is the last written word of Patrick Kehoe, Skeeter Park.  The next we know of him he has changed his name to Thomas O’Hara and is living in 1924 in Wellington, New Zealand. He along with his Irish wife die early 1940’s and no-one knew of his real identity. Only with DNA testing by his 2 surviving elderly children in 2019 do we know he is Patrick Kehoe.

From the descendants of his sister it seems they along with his father (his mother died abt. 1918-1919) did not hear from Patrick Kehoe again.

I wonder if you can point me in the right direction so I can learn more about the history and hopefully about the people of Barntown Corps, Wexford during this time period. They might have something about him?

I also wonder if there are any further records that you could direct me to for his time spent in Stafford Detention Centre or Frongoch? I have found through The National Archives, London the Home Office Lists which have him registered as prisoner #880 and prisoner #1002 (noting the duplication and correction) with the transfer from Stafford to Frongoch.

I’m really puzzled why he might have joined the British Navy as reported in the newspaper and confirmed as hearsay by Sean Sinnott in 1968 – I can find no record British Navy record. Again if you can help with this that would be much appreciated.

I have searched all other records and see no evidence that at the time 2 Patrick Kehoe’s were living at Skeeter Park, Wexford so am confident that all mention of Patrick Kehoe, above, is my grandfather.

Any direction to another forum or website or any suggestions of where I might be able to find more information would be great.

With very many thanks

Anne Kendrick

Whanganui

New Zealand