sub-series 2 - From Intelligence Officers

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P46/1/3/2

Title

From Intelligence Officers

Date(s)

  • 1921 (Creation)

Level of description

sub-series

Extent and medium

1 file and 1 item

Context area

Name of creator

(1896-1976)

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 contain communications from the 2nd and 4th Battalion intelligence officers.

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

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

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    Existence and location of copies

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        Accession area