Stories of the revolution: President’s uncle got military pension but aunt turned down

President Michael D Higgins’s uncle Peter was involved in both the War of Independence and the pro-Treaty National Army.

Unlike his anti-Treaty brother John, he had no difficulty receiving a pension for his activities. He listed his activities while a volunteer as “too numerous to mention”.

Peter Higgins joined the Irish Volunteers in April 1917 as a first lieutenant. He took an active part in the capture of Newmarket-on-Fergus police barracks, the attack on Scarriff police barracks, in which one RIC officer was killed, the ambush of police at Cratloe in which two RIC men were killed and the ambush of police at Carrigoran and Craggalough.

He was described by Maj Gen Michael Brennan of the Western Division as “one of the best and most active volunteers in Clare during the periods mentioned [War of Independence]. Served with the East Clare Flying column.” Maj Gen Brennan added: “I was personally acquainted with him from early in 1920 and from that time to this time he was one of the most active and reliable men in his district.”

Loyal

He noted that Peter Higgins “stood loyal” to the National Army when the split came and was one of the “most reliable men I had in Galway. I could trust him to any extent.”

Higgins was discharged from the National Army in January 1924 and given a pension of £35 a year.

The President’s aunt, Kitty Higgins, was a member of Cumann na mBan. She listed her activities as making Tricolours, supplying food to training camps and clothes to volunteers before they went on ambushes. She also listed keeping poor rate demand notes and money that was supposed to have been handed over to Clare Co Council.

She gave the money to battalion commanders. She also carried dispatches. She took the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War and was employed sending underclothing and food parcels to prisoners at Tintown internment camp in Co Kildare. She was refused a military pension as her activities were not regarded as active service. Michael Higgins, another brother, was also refused a military service pension. He was with the D Company of the 1st battalion of the East Clare Brigade from 1917.

He was also active during the War of Independence from April 1921 to the truce in July 1921. He listed as activities as including scouting for a column, arranging for the execution of a spy in Newmarket-on-Fergus, cutting telegraph and telephone wires and blocking roads. He only claimed for the War of Independence but was turned down for a pension. He did not appeal.