Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1921 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 items
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Maurice ‘Jack’ MacCarthy was born in Kilfinane, County Limerick, and was educated to primary school level locally. He completed his secondary education in Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare. From an early age MacCarthy was highly interested in nationalist politics. He joined the Irish Volunteers at their inception in 1914 and was involved in the reorganisation of the Volunteers in 1917 following the release of IRA prisoners. In the War of Independence he was successively Commandant of the Galtee Battalion, Commandant of the East Limerick Brigade and Vice Officer Commanding and Adjutant of the 4th Southern Division of the Irish Republican Army. He was heavily involved in all the major operations conducted by the East Limerick Brigade during the conflict, most famously in the events surrounding the downing of an RAF airplane by the IRA. At the end of the War of Independence, MacCarthy joined the pro-Treaty side for purely pragmatic reasons, realising that the IRA would be unable to recommence hostilities against the vastly superior British forces. In later years, MacCarthy worked as military correspondent to the Irish Independent during the Second World War and was the author of Limerick’s Fighting Story (1948).
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This sub-series contains routine letters from the Department of the Quartermaster General of Óglaigh na hÉireann General Headquarters.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The documents have been arranged chronologically by date.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English