Thankyou Irishmedals, much appreciated - irish1916 has been really helpful, so a great bunch of lads and its really motivated me to explore more. I'd be really interested to hear your views on why Denis only recorded his service in his pension as with the "Irish Citizen Army (I.R.A)" finishing in February 1918 and said nothing about his action during the following war given he has the War of Independence medal with bar, indicating active service. I've just spoken to his daughter pushing her (again) for any morsel of information. I already had one anecdote from the oldest daughter a few years ago, so, After 5 years trying, this is what I've got:-
One sister tells of being told by Mary how Denis and Mary were chased by soldiers (or black and tan, not sure) and ran into in a funeral parlour to hide. Mary quickly ran to the coffin and placed their gun under the body of the deceased and they slipped into the congregation. The soldiers ran into the funeral parlour and seeing the solemn group they were amongst, slowed and quietly began searching the men and women. Finding nothing they left. Denis and Mary collected the gun, thanked their fellow Dubliners and moved on.
I often wonder why Mary had the gun. I asked another of the sisters did her mother ever speak about Easter or the war (her father died when she was 7 years old so she has few memories of him. This is what she told me ...
"Mammy never talked about it, ever. I remember I asked her once and she said ?there is still too much hatred and bitterness?. I kept asking her and she sat me down and told me of the time when her and Denis were coming home from a meeting and a women ran past chased by black and tan soldiers. Mammy had Denis's gun hidden in her knickers and Daddy dragged her into a shop doorway to hide. They saw the woman put a baby she was carrying into an ash can (a bin?). 'As the soldiers ran past they threw a grenade into the ash can, and carried on chasing the woman. The grenade exploded. That's why we don't talk about it anymore'. I never asked her again and that's all I know".
Told together, they are highly dramatic, but these stories were very reluctantly offered, and told with sadness and solemnity. I guess this reflects the family's history of not talking about the conflict for so many years. Might there be any documentary evidence for the second incident.
We have strong detail from pension application, but are there any sources you could point to where we might find out more about Denis and Marys active service in the war of independence?
many thanks