Fonds P48 - The Michael Healy Papers

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P48

Title

The Michael Healy Papers

Date(s)

  • 1921-c. 1990s (predominantly 1921-1924) (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

51 items

Context area

Name of creator

(Active in the 1910s-1950s)

Biographical history

Michael Healy was a native of Limerick and joined the Irish Volunteers in 1917 when they were being reorganised following the 1916 rising. He was promoted to Captain in the Volunteers and was heavily involved in IRA activities during the War of Independence. Healy took the Anti-Treaty side during the Civil War. He remained in the IRA following the end of the Civil War and was involved in its reorganisation until at least 1924. He appears to have been involved in helping to expedite the application process for military pensions for members of his company and battalion in c. 1940. He is recorded in 1956 in Dáil records as having been in receipt of a government pension having served in the War of Independence. Little is known about his life outside of the IRA except that he lived and worked as a shoe repairer at No. 38 Nicholas Street, Limerick City.

Archival history

The archive was discovered in the attic of a house in Meelick, County Clare. Michael Healy’s connection with the house or its occupants is not known.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Purchased at an auction in Limerick in four separate lots on 4 July 2012.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The collection comprises papers relating to C Company 2nd Limerick City Battalion Mid Limerick Brigade 1917-1924 and includes narrative accounts of the Brigade activities during the War of Independence and information on the reorganisation of the Limerick Brigades during and following the Civil War. The collection is unusual as the anti-Treaty IRA was considered to be an illegal organisation and their records as a consequence were usually kept secret.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

All records have been retained.

Accruals

No accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

The material has been divided into four series reflecting the form of the records and thereunder arranged chronologically by date.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access to all items.

Conditions governing reproduction

Standard copyright regulations apply to all items. For photocopying or reproducing material, please consult with the staff.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Paper documents and a photograph mostly in good condition.

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    This description follows guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd edition (2000), Irish Guidelines for Archival Description (2009), National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (1997) and EAP Guidance on Data Protection for Archive Services (2018).

    Status

    Level of detail

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archivist's note

        Papers arranged and described by John Harrington under the supervision of Anna-Maria Hajba in July 2015 and revised in May 2021.

        Accession area