Online Collections

Online Collections
Established in January 1947 by Oscar Traynor, the Bureau worked over 11 years to collect revolutionary period (1913-1921) materials

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Bureau of Military History (1913-1921)
Communications (despatches and forms) between I.R.A. Brigade and Battalion Officers and predominately those holding appointments in General Headquarters.

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The Collins Papers (1917-1922)
The National Army Census was taken on 12th/13th November 1922.

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Irish Army Census Collection (12 November 1922 - 13 November 1922)
First printed on 7th February 1914 it was used to communicate orders and directions to the Volunteers as well as highlighting the activities of specific units to inspire others.

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The Irish Volunteer (1914 - 1916)
The collection contains c. 4000 maps and architectural plans and drawings from the British War Office, the Royal Engineer Corps, the Ordnance Survey and latterly the Defence Forces Engineer Corps.

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Maps, Plans & Drawings Collection (1702 - 2007)
Media Hub (20th Century)

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Media Hub (20th Century)
Military Archives holds approximately 40,000 digital images.

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Image Gallery (20th Century)
Military Archives Image Identification Project (20th Century)

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Image Identification Project (20th Century)
Pension and medal applications from veterans of the revolutionary period, and the administration and legislation files linked to the Pensions Board

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Military Service Pensions Collection (1916 - 1923)
Began officially in 2015 with the aim of digitally recording memory, oral history and tradition associated with the Defence Forces since its inception in 1922.

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Oral History Project (20th Century)
An t-Óglách is often described as a successor to the Irish Volunteer publication. The Irish Volunteer was known as the official organ of the Irish Volunteers.

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An t-Óglach Magazine (1918 - 1933)
United Nations Unit Histories (1960 - 1982)

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United Nations Unit Histories (1960 - 1982)

Reading Room

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Reading Room
A collection, given to the archives in 2018, containing paperwork specific to the books, the interviews for the books and the interviews themselves.

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Uinseann Mac Eoin Collection
Files concerning Irish Defence Forces contact with British and American Military Authorities during WWII.

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18th Military Mission
Partly covers history of the Irish Air Corps and its aircraft, from the Martinsyde to the Casa, with details on technical aspects of the aircraft.

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Air Corps Museum Collection
On the establishment and organisation of the Air Observer Corps (later the Air Defence Command); covers air and marine intelligence and more.

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Air Defence Command
On the administration of the school, its contacts with other equine bodies, competitions and veterinary files covering inspections of horses, etc.

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Army Equitation School Collection
Papers of the 1924 Army Inquiry Committee, established to identify reasons for indiscipline and mutinous conduct observed in the National Army.

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The Army Inquiry Committee Papers
Reports, minutes and correspondence between members of the Army Organisation Board, created after the post-Civil War demobilisation of personnel.

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Army Organisation Board
Reports to the Dáil Éireann Executive Council on military matters from 1923 to 1930, including the Civil War aftermath, the Army Mutiny and more.

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Chief of Staff Reports to the Executive Council of Dáil Éireann
Anti-Treaty documents (covering administration, publicity and operations) captured in raids, interceptions and arrests and sent to intelligence.

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Civil War Captured Documents
Files relating to Anti-Treaty personnel interned during the Civil War; covers internees and administration of camps, prisons and barracks.

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Civil War Internment Collection
Irish Free State Army reports on operations, anti-treaty activities and more. Sources include General Headquarters and Commands and Divisions.

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Civil War Operations and Intelligence Reports Collection
Featuring transcriptions of radio and telephone reports from the Civil War period, complementing other Civil War collections.

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Civil War Radio Reports
On the 1938 handover of coastal fortifications to the Irish Free State, creation of Coastal Defence Artillery, harbour defence and fort operations.

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Coastal Defence Artillery Collection
An incomplete set of agendas and minutes from Council of Defence meetings, covering the years from 1925 to 1974.

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Council of Defence
On military legal administration between 1922 and 1924, with some material from the later 1920s and 1930s relating to Civil War era legal matters.

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Court-Martial Administration Civil War Period
Reports (with detailed information on Defence Forces positions each year from the Emergency Period on) submitted to the Minister for Defence.

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Defence Forces Annual and General Reports
Articles about, and relevant to, the Defence Forces and its members. These press cuttings have been collected by various personnel over the years.

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Defence Forces Press Cuttings
Covering various aspects of the tactical, organisational, operational and administrative response in Ireland to the outbreak of World War II.

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Emergency Defence Plans
Historical Section (known in the past as the Second Bureau or Military Archives) files on both contemporary and retrospective Revolutionary Period.

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Historical Section Collection
Detailing day-to-day incidents and the noting/tracking of shipping or aircraft at Coast Watching Service lookout posts during the Emergency Period.

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Lookout Post Logbooks
Intelligence collection covering press analysis, intelligence reports and compensation claims from during the civil war and afterwards.

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Military Intelligence and Press Analysis
Intelligence collection of clippings, reports, surveys and correspondence focusing on Northern Ireland and the border area.

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Military Intelligence Northern Ireland
On the Military Mission (a review of US military operations) and the Temporary Plans Division, which influenced the evolution of the Defence Forces.

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Military Mission/Temporary Plans Division
Covering the establishment of an Emergency Period censorship office, its administration, the implementation of various forms of censorship and more.

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Office of the Controller of Censorship
Reports and correspondence from the Postmaster General concerning anti-treaty forces' attacks on communications during and after the civil war.

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Civil War Post Master General Reports
Covers some of the operations and administration of the Corps, which were established to protect the railway network.

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Railway Protection, Repair and Maintenance Corps
Documents and cuttings on IRA internees in UK and more, created or compiled by the Chief Liaison Office and Directorate of Intelligence Office.

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Truce Liaison and Evacuation Papers
Covers the operations and administration of the 32nd to 39th Infantry Battalions, the 1st and 2nd Infantry Groups and the Armoured Car Groups

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United Nations Operations in Congo
A collection of unit Journal entries recording reports on incidents around the country during the Emergency Period.

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WWII Unit Journals
Ministry, and Department, of Defence file series and recent accruals, from the formation of the Irish Free State to the late 1960s and early 1970s.

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Department of Defence File Series

Resources

Other

Background

'The greatest missionary force to ever leave the shores of Ireland'

Search this collection

Overview

Jerry Carroll
Interviewed for MAOHP - 21/02/2025
Reference Code: MAOHP_009_3
Length:

In this clip, Father Jerry Carroll, the Chaplain to the Air Corps, speaks passionately about the role of Irish peacekeepers which he describes as 'the greatest missionary force to ever leave the shores of Ireland'.