Abstract
This thesis utilises a case study approach to analyse the military service and wound/injury pension applications of thirty female Irish revolutionaries. Using the files housed in the Military Service Pensions Collection, militant women's reasons for pension application and resulting pension outcomes are investigated. A reading of pension applications reveals that recognition and compensation for efforts in the Irish revolution (1916-1923) provided the primary motivations for claiming veteran privileges. Moreover, in conjunction with an analysis of the creation, debate, and implementation of the 1924 and 1934 Military Service Pensions Act, successful pension outcomes were determined by individual military service and Fianna Fáil's gendered, state-building agenda. The Irish context is also used as a historical basis to analyse the conflict afterlives of modern-day female veterans.Thesis is embargoed until 31 July 2026.
| Date of Award | Jul 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Sponsors | AHRC Northern Bridge Consortium & Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada |
| Supervisor | Marie Coleman (Supervisor) & Diane Urquhart (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- Female veterans
- Military Service Pensions Act
- Military Service Pensions Collection
- Irish Revolution
- gender
- Irish Free State
- modern-day female veterans