John Minihan (1890–1958)
John Minihan was born in April 1890 at Ballykinacorra South, Corofin, Co. Clare. He served as Vice-Commandant 5th Battalion, Clare Brigade and Adjutant 3rd Battalion and Intelligence Officer of the Mid-Clare Brigade during the War of Independence and Quarter Master and Director of Special Services, 1st Western Division IRA during the Civil War. In 1934 John Minihan applied for a Military Service Pension. The application details John’s activities in the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 1913 and 1923. He describes the organization and personalities of the Clare and Mid-Clare Brigades during this turbulent period. He also describes his time in Mountjoy and Dundalk prisons and his hunger strikes in both prisons. During the War of Independence he participated in the capture of Ruan Barracks, and in the Monreal, Caherrea, O’Briens Castle, Carrahan, and Clifden Ambushes and was very active in intelligence-gathering.
John’s application is given here, with a transcription, along with some family photos and his obituary from the ‘Clare Champion’. A short biography of John Minihan, written by Paul Minihan of Corofin is also given.
We are grateful to Paul Minihan for donating these
John Minihan Papers to Clare County Archives.
Short
Biography of John Minihan
John
Minihan’s Application for a Military Service Pension
Transcription
of John Minihan’s Application
John
Minihan’s Obituary from ‘The Clare Champion’
Photographs
relating to John Minihan
John & Greta Minihan