Katharine Tynan and The Aerodrome

Katharine Tynan's poem "The Aerodrome" is supposed to be a lament for her father's land being sold to become Baldonnel aerodrome (I think the father's land was actually sold to become the aerodrome at Tallaght - now Cookstown Industrial Estate - but have yet to prove this).

A memorial cross to her father, Andrew Cullen Tynan, is still in place on the Belgard Road. A memorial to Katharine Tynan can be found in Tallaght.

Her nephew Gerald Cullen Tynan O'Mahony (father of comedian Dave Allen) joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary (ADRIC aka Auxiliaries) having been commissioned into the British Army via the Dublin University Officer Training Corps (DUOTC). He was later managing director of the Irish Times.

The Tynan's had been actively involved with the Freeman's Journal. Nora Mahony's claim for compensation gives her address as Airfield House, Tallaght while the claim for losses in 1916 is for property in the Freeman's Journal property by the GPO in Princes Street.

1916 Property Losses Committee claim by Nora Tynan O'Mahony

DUOTC Member on Arms and Intelligence gathering

An interesting witness statement from Sean (John Nelson) Beaumont who appears to have been a member of the Dublin University Officer  Training Corps (DUOTC). He appears to have got his brother involved in gathering intelligence from the Auxiliaries (ADRIC) and in an arms gathering operation

Sean Beaumont witness statement

Willie and Sean Beaumont have a short write up in a book called "Michael Collins and the Anglo Irish War : Britain's Counter Insurgency Failure" by J B E Hittle and also in "The Squad and the Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins" by T Ryle Dwyer.

Willie appears to have been openly anti-Sinn Fein originally until his encounter with Blacks and Tans. John/Sean was interested in the Irish language as well as left wing politics and edited a publication called "An t-Eireannach".

1901 Census - Beaumont boys

1911 Census - Beaumont family

Was Willie too young to be commissioned into the Army given the ages on the census?

London Gazette - 2nd Lt William Victor Beaumont commissioned

William Victor Beaumont was awarded the Military Cross :
London Gazette - William Victor Beaumont - For Gallantry

His Medal Index Card shows he started as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, number 2855 before being commissioned. His MIC doesn't list any WW1 campaign medals nor does it mention hi Military Cross.

William appears to have become a police inspector in Jamaica.

Another brother, Henry Foxton Beaumont, served in the British Army during WW1 as a Chaplain. Awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.


Sean Beaumont's wife also submitted a witness statement

Mrs Maureen Beaumont (nee McGavock) witness statement

Cadet J McCaughey : Dublin University Officer Training Corps (DUOTC)

I don't collect militaria etc but acquired a number of buttons that relate to Dublin University Officer Training Corps (DUOTC) as well as an identity bracelet for a DUOTC Cadet J McCaughey dated September 1918.

No McCaughey appears in the list of Defenders of Trinity College in the 1916 Rebellion Handbook.

The Irish Times has a 1917 article relating to students at Trinity College winning some prizes and a James McCaughey is mentioned. Possibly the J McCaughey on the identity bracelet.

A bit more research needed to find out what happened to J McCaughey. As the identity bracelet is dated September 1918, it's unlikely that he entered the Army/Navy/RAF in time to serve at the frontline.

Trinity Alumni
In the 1962 Register of the Alumni of Trinity College, Dublin, Reverend James McCaughey is recorded as an MA graduate (1919) living at The Manse, Howth, Co Dublin.

In the 1965 version of the register, his address is given as 3 Sandringham Drive, Bangor, Co Down. He is at this address in a 1970 phone directory.

A reference to Rev James McCaughey "up to 1962" in the following article :

Year of celebration for Malahide Presbyterians