Monday, January 27, 2014

Old IRA Pensions Debate- 1956

An interesting debate in the Dail from 1956 regarding pensions to ex-volunteers of the Old IRA and the families of fallen volunteers.

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad1956121900006

As he points out it was not always received- sometimes from neglect (incompetence) and sometimes through politicking. Female volunteers of the ICA and Cumann na mBan were denied pensions until the late 30's, and many republicans who were Anti-Treaty - and so believed in not recognizing the Dublin government- refused to take their pension out of principle. (Goes to show that while the issue of absenteeism seems absurd to many today, it was a deadly serious cause for which thousands sacrificed.)

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