(Above) Paddy (PJ) Luddy and Cassie Burke (Cumann Na mBan), Paris 1938.
This collection, donated by Bill Luddy and family, contains artefacts relating to Tim, Patrick (P.J.) and William Luddy, active IRA members from the mid-1910’s, and later joined Anti-Treaty guerrilla forces. Every member of the Mitchelstown-based family including sisters Annie and Margaret, members of Cumann na mBan were somehow involved in the fight for Irish independence. Most notably their father had fought alongside O’Neill-Crowley in the 1867 Fenian Uprising, while the brothers themselves fought alongside Tom Barry. This collection includes various related artefacts, including a stolen Bank of Ireland silver bag, Tim Luddy’s Spike Island internment notebooks, a military pension, land ownership documents, and a demesne notebook. Interestingly, the demesne notebook pertains to the efforts to acquire the Mitchelstown Castle lands, on which the Luddy’s were tenant farmers in previous generations. Mitchelstown Castle was later burned to the ground on the order of Commanding Officer P.J. Luddy.”
Gaelic Lesson Book from Spike Island
Small Autograph Book: Spike Island
Minute Book- Mitchelstown Desmene Association/Mitchelstown Landless Small Holders Association
Quartermasters Record Book-Paddy Luddy
Land Purchase Commission Order
Military Pension Form (David Magner)
Photo: Paddy (PJ) Luddy and Cassie Burke (Cumann Na mBan)-Paris 1938
Letter: William Luddy Release from Military Prison, Cork City Gaol 1923
Many thanks to the Luddy family for donating such a significant collection.