1916 Rising Research

meganob

I'm just wondering has anyone any information about Peadar Bracken -a soldier who fought alongside Michael Collins and he is of Offaly origin.
Any info is appreciated,thanks a million!

Lt Dan

Most towns would have someone from the local historian society who would have done a bit research or an odd book on the area during that time,maybe his name will crop up.

What division area in Offaly did he come from, my understanding that parts of the county eg Shannonbridge might have been lumped in with neighbouring counties.

You might start with the Archives at the local papers eg 1966 commemorations and interviews with locals who were out.

Probably is, Offaly was not really an active county during 1916-1921 . As places like Tullamore were garrison towns business people spoke with their pockets (many towns were like that). Also much of the midlands did not have the suitable landscape to conduct warfare, too flat.


I have some information, but it might not be the guy you are looking for

The Source comes from a book on the people of Rpscommon and town of Athlone, and parts of the West "They Put The Flag a Flying" by Kathleen Thorne

There is an entry for "Peadar Bracken" , from Tullamore. This guy was a member of the IRB, like Collins and did take part in 1916 Rising" in Dublin". The entry states that

"he returned to Drumraney Westmeath where he met officers and laid down "plans for local units participation". They along with a group from Athlone were suppose to march to Shannonbridge but for the Countercommand.

Bracken was was arrested in Athlone and sent to Richmond Barracks in Dublin. He too was sent to camp in Britain.

Apparently he was part of GHQ staff in 1920 and helped set up the Republican Courts in Westmeath / Longford - so perhaps check the index section on Michael Collins bio or Foy's book on the Intelligence War during 1919-1922.

Sorry not a lot else

Coillte_Bhoy

Did a quick search on http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/ and there's a witness statement from him and plenty of other refs too
http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/bmhsearch/search.jsp?querystr=Peadar+Bracken

Lt Dan

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Did a quick search on http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/ and there's a witness statement from him and plenty of other refs too
http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/bmhsearch/search.jsp?querystr=Peadar+Bracken

Yep, that is definitely the guy. Other witness statements also refer to him as Peter. The op should just type in Bracken as well to read the statements of others who had dealings with Bracken

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0998.pdf#page=6 Page 6

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0007.pdf#page=17 Pages 17-19

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0669.pdf#page=1 Son in Law

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0013.pdf#page=3

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0388.pdf#page=9 9 and 10



http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0845.pdf#page=106 Mentioned several times Pages 7,9,10,13,24,25,31,105,106,107,110

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1503.pdf#page=5

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1617.pdf#page=8

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1337.pdf#page=3

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0327.pdf#page=12

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0435.pdf#page=9