Dr John A. Madden, Belderrig Mor, Ballycastle Co. Mayo
Dr John A. Madden, Belderrig Mor, Ballycastle Co. Mayo In the Kilmeena ambush Dr. Madden was in a very dangerous position along a fence within range of the rifle grenades. He had to retreat across an open field while his attackers were covered by Michael Kilroy, Madden escaped without injury. John applied for a pension in 1934 he was awarded 5 1/2 years but he was most unhappy and made several submissions to have it increased. These submissions give a lot of detail on his career in the IRA. It is probably the most detailed of any pension application He joined the volunteers in Ballina in the summer of 1914 and transferred to University College Galway coy and he also became a member of the IRB in 1915 in the College. John was not impressed by the IRB and felt they contributed nothing to the War of Independence. He mentions in his interview with Ernie O Malley, that the IRB looked for a landing place for arms from a German boat along the North Mayo coast from Belde...