| Description | Although fragmentary, these papers show the development of the LDF in Galway. While the collection consists primarily of the correspondence of Cillian O Briolchain in his position as District Training Officer for the Galway LDF and later Officer Commanding, "B" Company, 50th Rifle Battalion, there is also a number of interesting items. One of these is a report on LDF plans for the defence of the Galway area should there be an enemy landing, establishing what each local company should do. [POL 1/8]. There is also material on the maneuvers carried out by the LDF at the time, although by no means a complete record, as well as correspondence relating to the administration of "B" Company. Considerable effort appears to have been put into the presentation and blessing of the colours of the new Battalion on 11th October 1942. The Ceremony took place in the tennis grounds in UCG, as well as a parade through Eyre Square. Outside of these events, however, little seems to have been preserved relating to the LDF in Galway. |
| Administrative History | These papers relate to the activities of Professor Cillian O Briolchain, Professor of Physics in UCG and also a member of the Local Defence Forces during the Emergency. The Local Defence Forces were the army reserves established to augment the regular forces at the time. Their work consisted primarily of patrolling their own areas, and providing manpower for emergencies such as air raids and civil unrest. Around 1941/2 ten rifle battalions were formed along military lines out of the LDF. There were five in Dublin, two in Cork, and one each in Limerick, Waterford and Galway. These battalions maintained their loose organisational structure to some degree, but also acquired the structures of a regular military unit. These papers show this in practice in Galway. It was felt at the time that there was a need to establish shoreline defences, and the 50th Rifle Battalion, which was formed out of the Galway LDF, was part of that. |