Search Results for 'Leonard McDonnell'

I was interested in the following letter from Leonard McDonnell, about his father and grandfather. His grandfather, Petie Joe McDonnell, born in Leenane, worked as a coach builder with Kilroys of Newport, before joining the Irish Volunteers in 1914. He had good military instincts, and was well regarded by the Dublin IRA. In March 1921 he was appointed OC Western Connemara Brigade. Pádraic Ó Máille served under him. While on the run he married Matilda (Tilly) Kilroy. They had eight children. He took the anti Treaty side during the Civil War. During World War II he served as a captain in the Irish Army. Afterwards he worked in the insurance business in Galway, and died in the city in 1967.