Friday 1 August 2014

More post-Truce Compensation files listed by NAI

The National Archives of Ireland (NAI) has uploaded lists to its online catalogue of the Finance Compensation (post-truce) files for Counties Cork (FIN/COMP/2/4) and Kerry (FIN/COMP/2/8). These files deal with claims for compensation for loss of or damage to property that occurred as a result of military action between July 1921 and March 1923, under the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923.

This is the second batch of files from this collection to join the catalogue. Those for County Limerick (FIN/COMP/2/13), County Longford (FIN/COMP/2/14) and County Louth (FIN/COMP/2/15) were uploaded in May (see blogpost). You can read more about this collection and search the listings for each of the five counties on the NAI website.

I've had a good root through the Cork listing of 1988 files (the largest so far) mainly because it's my paternal county and I was interested to see if any of my Dad's family or neighbours made any claims. They didn't, but a distant branch of the Santrys did, and I'm curious to learn more. I shall make sure to check on the file next time I visit the Reading Room.

In the Cork collection, and I'm sure in all the counties, claims were made by people from all sections of society. The likes of Georgiana Dorothea Harnett, countess of Bandon (her claim submitted from London) and Robert Henry Boyle, earl of Shannon (claiming from Government House, Madras, India), are listed alongside many merchants, farmers, drapers, blacksmiths, carpenters and shopkeepers, and so on. There were claims, too, from many famous businesses, among them Eason's, Marconi International, Beamish & Crawford, Anglo American Oil, a handful of of bank branches and, for some reason I've yet to work out, a significant number of creameries.

The total Finance Compensation (post-truce) collection comprises some 20,000 files. Below are a few examples of the details available from the Cork and Kerry catalogue. In each case, the original file is available to researchers at the NAI Reading Room in Bishop Street, Dublin:
  • Jeremiah J Hegarty, Home Farm, Ballyvourney, County Cork. Seizure and destruction of property at Cappagh East, County Cork, on 25 February 1923; seizure of livestock by unknown persons at Ballyvourney on 10 June 1922.
  • John Roche, Labacally, Glanworth, County Cork. Seizure and damage to motor car by unidentified armed men at Labacally on 1 July 1922; destruction of crops by fire at Labacally on 8 October 1922.
  • Patrick Sugrue, farmer, Spa, County Kerry. Roof of dwelling house damaged by bullets during fighting between National troops and Irregular forces at Spa on 2 August 1922; donkey cart damaged by National troops at Spa on 6 December 1922.
  • Mary Guerin, High Street, Tralee, County Kerry. Shop goods destroyed and cash taken at High Street, Tralee, by National troops on 17 September 1922.