ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21 ...

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Dick O'Connell's Statement.Glossary of names.Page 2. Jim Leydon: Also referred to in the statementof J.J. Quilty.Mick Brennan: Maj. Gen. Brernian, late Chief ofStaff National Army.Peadar McMahon: Lt. Gen. McMahon, afterwardsChief of Staff National Armyand now Secretary Dept. of Defence.Page 5. Jim Dalton: Capt. of 1st Limerick Bn.Shot as a spy presumably by somemembers of 2nd Bn. Was subjectof enquiry which cleared Dalton'sname. His: widow. was: awarded asum in compensation from Dáil fundsand later was; awarded a pension.John Joe Quilty: See Quilty's Statement.Page 9. Bill Wall: Brother of the late Brigadier SeánWall and of Canon Wall of Ballingarry.Page 13. Colivet: Michael Colivet of 1st Limerick Bn.Page 19. Bill Hayes: Maj. Gen. Liam Hayes late Adj. Gen.National Army.Jack McCartby: Lt. Col. McCarthy Bureau Staff.Page 24. Liam Hoolan: Colonel Liam Hoolan now retiredfrom National Army.
STATEMENT <strong>OF</strong> MR. RICHARD O'CONNELL,Cameron Lodge, Coolock, Co. Dublin.(Late of Caherconlish, Co. Limerick).I was born in 1892 in Caherconlish, Co. Limerick.My father owned a publichouse and a farm in Caherconlish.I was educated at the local National School. Then I wentto the Jesuits' crescent College in Limerick, and I wasthere until 1911. I stood for an examination in Dublininto the College of Surgeons in 1911, but failed theprelim.into the College of Surgeons and never went backthere. I think the first of whatever bit of nationalitywas in me came from an old Jesuit at The Crescent inLimerick Fr. Michael McGrath. He died only last yearin Milltown, Co. Dublin. A peculiar thing I rememberwas that although there was something like thirty stoodfor the examination when I stood for it, I was the only oneof that crowd that took Irish as a subject. That was allthrough Fr. McGrath. That examination was in 1910. Hesaid to me in Limerick: "Dick, you had better take Irishbecause a day will come in this country when no job willbe got without a knowledge of Irish".I went then to an uncle of mine at Nenagh who hada big farm and who was a great man for horses. He usedbreed horses, and I was very fond of horses. whenI was going to the Crescent in Limerick, I was never a dayabsent from school except when there was a horse fair inLimerick. The Rector in the College sent for my fatherone time and he said, "I don't know what happens thisfellow but when there is a horse fair in Limerick, he isnever In school". I used always ride, the horses forfellows I knew at the fair. I remained six months with
Page 1 and 2: ROINNCOSANTA.BUREAU OF MILITARY HIS
Page 3: -2-Page.22. Escape plan carried out
Page 7 and 8: 3.ten would be the number that turn
Page 9: 5.Battalion. There were then only t
Page 12 and 13: 8.After my release I started re-org
Page 14 and 15: 10.at the Caherconhish Barracks bec
Page 16 and 17: 12.were on the ditch, Mick Brennan
Page 18 and 19: 14.An ambush was brought off then.
Page 20 and 21: 16.dome other people concerned, 10t
Page 22 and 23: 18.and all the Tans and police were
Page 24 and 25: 20.in the evening, that we would th
Page 26 and 27: 22.Then we got out on the road and
Page 28 and 29: 24.myself. They said they were very
Page 30 and 31: 26.cell, locked me up arid, kept th
Page 32 and 33: 28.got through that wire, it. would
Page 34 and 35: 30.been used by the military for ri
Page 36 and 37: 32.on pass". just as we stood up to
Page 38: 34.in Limerick. Most of its members

ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21 ...

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