MSP Archive

A Vendetta in Mohill: The 1922 Shooting of Patrick McKenna Letter from “Mrs Higgins”, sister of Mohill shooting victim Patrick McKenna and found on Terence McQuaide’s military service pension file. Her hopes were to be disappointed. On th…

A Vendetta in Mohill: The 1922 Shooting of Patrick McKenna

militarypensions.wordpress.com/2026/02/09/a...

Execution of RIC Divisional Commissioner Smyth (July 1920) Introduction Smyth, Gerald Bryce Ferguson (1885–1920), joined the British army in 1905, served in France during World War I and owing to wounds lost his left arm in October 1914. He was promoted to…

Execution of RIC Divisional Commissioner Smyth (July 1920)

militarypensions.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/e...

Cataloguing ALL files is a form of recognition. Whether successful or unsuccessful claims, we'll leave no file behind.

We're cataloguing a collection, we are not reviewing the validity of claims.
In our blog we post what we find interesting along the way, sometimes exposing the limitations of pension legislation which was very narrow. Those posts are about research, they are not official reviews.

Important point:
Archivists have no authority to 'reopen cases' of pension applications lodged a hundred years ago, nor do we conflate recognition and award of pension. An unsuccessful pension does not mean applicants were not there or are lying about their activities.

If it was a remarriage, then it changes things. Do you want to give us the red so we can have a look?
Also...everything with a pinch of salt as legislation changed a lot along the way. Something to that effect (between spouses) in 1971...

Hi! There is no automatic continuance of financial award onto the widow once a pension recipient dies. Pensions are not 'passed on', they're very much attached to the recipient. Perhaps she could have applied for an allowance, depending on when he died. I don't think marriage date is relevant here.

The MSPA team is getting ready for a file release! A belated Christmas present if you will 🎁
Release 19 contains well over 1,000 new names added to our database and over 2,400 new files (described and scanned). Breakdown and nominal list to follow...
#Archives #IrishRevolution

Hi Alasdair, yes, it seems that the work we're doing to upgrade our systems can interfere with the app at times. We're keeping at it though as it is essential work. We sincerely apologise for the intermittent access.

Hi all, access to MSPC search systems may be temporarily disrupted due to maintenance work. We appreciate your patience and will restore full service as soon as possible.

Two of my children buried…my home pulled down Release 18 from the MSPC brings to light the tragic case of the Mansfield family of Mullinahone, County Tipperary. Philip Mansfield (DP3005) 1888-1931. Served as Adjutant, Mullinahone Company, 7 Ba…

Latest MSPC blog post!

wp.me/p8QdX0-2EX

Oh no! Right now, it is working for us though... Is it the search function? Can you tell us where the block is?

Release 18 Highlights (Pt. 3) – The Civic Guard in the Civil War, the veteran who repaid his pension, and some interesting documents

On the left - One of the few personal photographs found so far in the collection. Margaret Kelly, widow of Patrick Kelly MSP34REF19983

Release 18 Highlights – Kilkenny native jailed in Canada John Keane (MSP34REF1992) was born in Kilkenny in 1892 and joined the Irish Volunteers in 1916. He later left his position as a draper’s assistant in Kenny’s, High Street, Kilkenny and became a member of the Active Service Unit (Flying Column) under the command of George O'Dwyer (24SP12814). Keane took part in the ambush at Coolbawn, County Kilkenny on 18 June 1921 in which two IRA members…

Release 18 Highlights – Kilkenny native jailed in Canada

John Keane (MSP34REF1992) was born in Kilkenny in 1892 and joined the Irish Volunteers in 1916. He later left his position as a draper’s assistant in Kenny’s, High Street, Kilkenny and became a member of the Active Service Unit (Flying…

Release 18 Highlights (Pt. 1) Highlights from Release 18 of the MSPC (June 2025)1. Key Highlights2. Parliamentary politics and civic life3. Interesting incidents4. Arms work and intelligence5. Interesting post conflict stories6…

Release 18 is live and this is the first installment of a series of blog posts highlighting the best, the strangest, the go-against-grain stories of this new release. Enjoy!
militarypensions.wordpress.com/2025/06/17/r...

Military Service Pensions Archive Visit the post for more.

Keep an eye out for our release highlights all along the week, here and on our blog militarypensions.wordpress.com

Military Archives | June 2025 Since 1990, the Military Archives has been the official place of deposit for records of the Irish Defence Forces, the Department of Defence and Ireland's…

#R18 Here is a teaser about our release, along with a full nominal list. Over 2,100 files will enter the public domain tomorrow.
This month, we're clocking at 20,940 individual entries for Pensions only, all files digitised and FREE to access.
www.militaryarchives.ie/en/online-co...

International Archives Week starts today!
The International Council on Archives have organised free webinars everyday open to everyone: www.ica.org/join-the-iaw...

Because making archives accessible is much more than digitising them. 🙌🏽

#IAW2025

a man is sweating while wearing headphones and making a face ALT: a man is sweating while wearing headphones and making a face

Happy to announce that the MSPA Project Team will proceed to its 18th Release on Tuesday 17 June.
More than 2000 files are in the starting blocks. More details soon.
#Archives #PublicRelease

No it's a good question. We've had a few hiccups lately due to a system and VPN upgrades and we're still working on it. Please let us know what links don't work. Email the MA with the reference codes, that's the only way we know the faulty links. 👍🏽 We need you!

MSP Archive Cinic!
Do you have any questions regarding the collection or the pensions legislation?
Can we help?

#MSPAC

Delighted to present at the @milwelfhist.bsky.social International Conf, in Austria: How @msp-archive.bsky.social enables the excavation of a multiplicity of meanings and how archives can shift our perspectives. From the BMH to the MSPA, our vision has been transformed.

@uni-graz.at

The cataloguing + digitising of the Military Service Pensions Archive participates in making the archives of Ireland’s revolution one of the most documented and most freely accessible revolutionary archives in the world.

The Internal Archives Week 2025 is almost there!!
Accessibility for everyone

We believe that the MSPC has resumed its service during the day. Apologies for the inconvenience everyone. 🙌🏽

Apologies about the pain.
It is also a pain for us 😅
We were made aware of the issue and it is being addressed.

Hi Mary.
We were made aware of the issue and it is being addressed.

Of Franco-Irish Connections and Diplomacy in the Military Service Pensions Collection (Military… Unsurprisingly, there are very few French claimants in the MSP Collection. In fact, the case of Louis Marie (1900–1957) is the only one…

More on Franco-Irish connections and diplomacy in the Archive
👇🏽
medium.com/@cecilechemi...

John MacBride, executed in May 1916 for his participation in the Rising is present in the collection through Maud Gonne’s claim for an allowance on behalf of her husband. The file contains a copy of a marriage certificate in the parish de St Honoré d’Eylau, Paris, where Seán MacBride was born.
#MSPC

Civil War Executions – April 1923 Cutting from the Irish Independent newspaper of 12 April 1923 reporting the Tuam executions. This cutting was submitted by Honor Moylan in support of her dependent’s claim in respect of her s…

April 1923 - Civile War Executions.

militarypensions.wordpress.com/2023/04/11/c...

Sam McGrath, one of our @msp-archive.bsky.social archivists will present his research on Kilmacud's revolutionary residents at St Laurence's Parish Centre on Thursday 10th April at 8pm.

We invite you all to go see him.