Irish Medals

Laois Brigade

Brady Laurence.  Vice Commandant, Portlaoise Company, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1892 died on the 14th of April 1973, aged about 24 years old during the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He served throughout the Civil War and took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War. Not awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Brady Thomas F. Vice Battalion Officer Commanding, Portlaoise Company Lalor's Mills Company, Laois Battalion, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1889 died on the 5th of January 1949, aged about 27 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He served throughout the War of Independence and took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War. He was arrested and interned from September 1922 until summer 1924. Not awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Fleming Eamon C. Company Officer Commanding, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1891 died on the 15th of April 1938, aged about 25 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He joined the Volunteers early in 1914. He was appointed by Sean Mac Dermott to take command of operations to disrupt rail and telegraph links between Rosslare, Cork and Dublin and was in charge of Portlaoise Company Irish Volunteers who cut rail lines at Colt Wood, Portlaoise and obstructed rail lines at Maganey, County Kildare. During the War of Independence he served on Michael Collins's personal staff working in the finance and intelligence sections and, was also in charge of Dan Breen's escape from Dublin to Tipperary following Breen's wounding in October 1920. He did not take part in the Civil War. Awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Fleming Padraic Joseph.  Company Officer Commanding, A Company, North Kilkenny Battalion, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1893 died on the 5th of December 1952, aged about 23 years old during the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He served throughout the War of Independence during which he served in the United States of America from May 1920 to about July 1921 raising funds, securing arms, speaking at public meetings and attempting to enlist support from members of the US military. He took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War during which he took part in fighting in Ferns and Enniscorthy, against National Army forces in July 1922 and was captured and interned from August of that year until the end of 1923. Not awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Gray Michael. Brigade Officer Commanding, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1897 died on the 8th of November 1985, aged about 19 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He served throughout the War of Independence and took the Pro-Treaty side in the Civil War serving as Captain with the 3rd Southern Division, 1st Laois Brigade and with Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces. He was not awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

McGuire John Peter. Volunteer, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1899 died on the 2nd of July 1968, aged about 17 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois in the area of railway line between Abbeyleix and Portlaoise, Maganey, County Kildare and in the area of railway line between Carlow and Athy, County Carlow. He successfully evaded capture following the surrender after the Rising. In late March 1921 he joined the Fingal Brigade Active Service Unit and until the end of the War of Independence in July 1921 took part in a number of IRA operations in north County Dublin including attacks on Coastguard stations, attack on the Remount Depot at Lusk, and attacks on British military and police personnel including the shooting of an RIC Sergeant Anderson. He took the Pro-Treaty side in the Civil War and joined the National Army in February 1922. John Peter McGuire served throughout the Civil War and left the Defence Forces on the 7th of March 1924 while serving at the rank of Captain. Awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Muldowney John. Volunteer, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers at the time of the Rising, he later went on to serve with D Company, 2nd battalion, Dublin brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1894 died on the 27th of December 1979, aged about 22 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He served with the Dublin Brigade IRA Active Service Unit from January 1921 until his arrest during the attack on the Custom House on the 25th of May 1921. He took the Pro-Treaty side in the Civil War and served as Lieutenant with the 5th Battalion, Athlone Command, Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces. Not awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Muldowney Patrick. Volunteer, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1896 died on the 30th of March 1964, aged about 20 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He was one of the party involved in the cutting of rail and telegraph lines at Colt Wood during the Rising. He served with the Dublin Brigade Active service Unit during the War of Independence as a Battalion Vice Commandant D Company prior to his internment in December 1920. He was also involved in assisting in the establishment of Sinn Féin courts in the area. He was employed as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Post Office, Portlaoise. He took the Pro-Treaty side in the Civil War and served as Lieutenant with the 5th Battalion, Athlon Command, Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces during the Civil War. Not awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Ramsbottom James. Volunteer, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1888 died on the 6th of January 1968, aged about 28 years old during the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise. During the War of Independence he served as a Brigade Intelligence Officer from late 1920 until the Truce on the 11th of July 1921. During the Civil War in February 1923 he was arrested and sentenced to death by a National Army Court Martial for possession of ammunition and interned until December 1923. Not awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Ramsbottom Patrick Joseph. Column Commander, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1891, aged about 25 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise. During the War of Independence he served as Officer Commanding Laois Brigade from April 1918 until his removal on disciplinary grounds in August 1920 and his internment from late 1920 until the Truce Period. He took no part in the Civil War. Awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.

Sheridan Michael J. Volunteer, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Fought at Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois. He continued his service with the Volunteers after the Rising and with the IRA up to the end of the War of Independence using his position as a journalist to obtain information on the Police and Military in the area. He did not take part in the Civil War. Awarded Easter Rising service in his pension application.