This lunchtime series of 3 lectures will be run by the Military Archives and hosted by Rathmines Library. This lecture will take place on Tuesday 2nd June 2015.

The Department of Defence, as part of the Government Centenary Commemoration programme, is cataloguing and partially digitising the Military Service Pensions Collection (MSPC) in the custody of the Military Archives.

Key to understanding and researching the period, context and the events of the period from 1916 -1923 is the MSPC. Described as the single most important archival collection relating to Irelands revolutionary period, the collection provides a significant insight into not only military activities but also social, economic and political aspects of the participants in the struggle for independence. This is the third of three lectures.

"Establishing the Free State in conflict, 1922 – 1924"

Following a review of policing, courts system and parliamentary procedures, this lecture will discuss the National Army (1922-1924) in relation to equipment, training and personnel. The talk will also examine the numbers of casualties, legislation and awarding criteria under the Army Pensions Acts. The presentation will utilise individual cases from the collection to illustrate the subject matter. The talk will also highlight the benefits/uses of the new material and future releases.

Robert McEvoy is a graduate from the school of History and Archives, UCD. Robert is an archivist with the Military Service Pensions Collection.

Mr Robert McEvoy