Verey light signal pistol, Drangan R.I.C. Barracks, Co. Tipperary, 1920

Verey light signal pistol, Drangan R.I.C. Barracks, Co. Tipperary, 1920

The actions of over 300 women during the War of Independence was critical to enable the fight to continue. The nature of guerrilla warfare dictates that the men of the IRA were ‘on the run’ most of the time, moving from area to area to escape arrest. It was the women of Cumann na mBan who arranged and provided safe houses where men rested and received food and medical treatment for their wounds. Cumann na mBan and other women were also responsible for the dangerous job of smuggling weapons and explosives, often providing their homes as arms dumps, and subsequently being subjected to violent raids from the British Forces. They couriered much of the communications - passing and receiving information on IRA plans, and gathering official information useful to the IRA in their jobs in Dublin Castle and telecommunications. They were also responsible for the production and dissemination of propaganda newsheets, and were active in the running of the Republican Courts. This Verey light signal pistol was taken by the IRA at the capture of the Drangan R.I.C. Barracks, Co. Tipperary, in June 1920. It was subsequently presented by the Officers of the 3^rd Tipperary Brigade to Mrs Mary Delany, whose house was used by southern officers as a safe house during the course of the War of Independence.