Tuesday's Tips: 'Granny was in the IRA': Turning a story into a history.

The Irish Oral Tradition is one with a long and important history.  As is the case with people from many backgrounds, it is the oral tradition which kept stories alive under the oppressive rule of a brutal colonizer who could destroy records, but could not control the stories alive on the tongues, and in the hearts and minds, of those they dominated.    For many of us who have Irish ancestors, it is the oral tradition which has kept our family stories alive, and has inspired us to journey down the road of family history.

My dad used to say, “no one can weave a tale like an Irishman can.”  I have many wonderful memories of stories told at get-togethers my parents had with ex-patriot Irish they befriended after emigrating from Ireland.  Like any child who likes a good story, I was enthralled.  Curled up on the floor next to the fire place, I happily listened to them sharing stories of ‘Home’.  When we were in Ireland, I loved to listen to my parents, with their aunts, uncles, and siblings, sharing stories of the past.  Recollections ran the gamut from memories of a childhood spent in Stoneybatter to reflections on the lives of those lost in the wars.

Now, as we seek to preserve those stories, we may discover that when the Irish Oral Tradition meets Irish History parts of those stories may not be strictly accurate.  Some family historians prefer to accept all the details as fact, and don't view the stories with a skeptical eye, even when things don’t quite add up.  To them I must pose the question, “Are we interested in learning the history of our ancestors’ lives, or in simply sharing myths created about them long after they turned to dust?”

Often, I receive emails from people whose ancestors shared the same Irish military history as mine, as well as from people whose stories sound a little sketchy.  The sketchy stories usually feature ancestral heroics during the Easter Rising or the Irish War of Independence, with some details which sound implausible, and others which are downright impossible.

The thing is, if your ancestor served in any of the forces which worked to free Ireland from British rule, there may be records available to support the facts of their service.  You just have to know where to find them.  Even if you discover that your ancestor was not the hero of the hour, that doesn’t mean the history of the day didn’t impact your family in a significant way.

What a 'well read' Cumann na mBan gun-runner girl might have carried.

Finding your ancestor in early 20th century Irish military history

Do you have a direct ancestor who served in the Irish Volunteers during the Easter Rising or the Irish War of Independence, or was a member of the Free State Army during the Irish Civil War, and he/she applied for a pension?

If so, then you may request a copy of their record of service, currently free of charge, through the Veteran's Allowance Section of the Irish Department of Defence. This office also accesses information from The Medals Files, and will provide to you the details of any medals awarded to your kin for service from 1916 to 1922.

A few things about this:

1}  The Irish War of Independence is also referred to as the 'Anglo-Irish War', 'The Black & Tan War', and even 'The Tan War'.   One war, several names.  If you’ve heard that Granny was a gun-runner in the Anglo-Irish War, then it means she served during the Irish War of Independence, 1919-1921.

2}  If your ancestor was killed in action while serving, a pension record may still exist, so long as his/her next of kin applied for a survivor's pension.

3}  You must be able to prove to the Veteran’s Allowance Section that you are next of kin to the person about whom you are requesting information.  You must provide a copy of your birth certificate, and the birth certificates of other persons (father, grandfather, etc.) in the particular family line in order to prove your lineage. (**see note below)

4}  Assuming a record exists, it may take up to a year for you to receive it. (Speaking from personal experience.)

5}  In your letter of application provide as much information as possible about your ancestor, including such details as their full name, address during the time in question, and company rank.

6}  You cannot submit an online request, but must write an actual letter to the office, being sure to include proof of kin documents.  Provide all possible means of contact for you, including email, snail mail, and telephone number.

Their full mailing address is:

Veterans Allowance Section
Department of Defence (DOD)
Renmore, Galway
Ireland.

**Note: Pension records which are currently available only to next of kin are scheduled for release; the plan is for all of them to be available for public access by 2016.  This does not mean they will be posted online, only that in requesting them you will not have to provide proof of next of kin status.

Suspect that Granny or Grandpa was in the IRA, but uncertain?  Check out next Tuesday's Tips.


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