Submitted by Liz Cassidy
Thomas Healy an Irish revolutionary who’s honey moon required a passport stamped in history
Thomas Healy, born in Cork in 1895, was not just any Irishman, but was involved in the Irish Civil War and even worked closely with Micheal Collins, one of Ireland’s most famous revolutionaries. Years later, he got married and went on his honeymoon, for which this passport was needed. Read more about his story, experience, and travels.
My grandfather, Thomas Healy (1895-1957), was issued his first passport in July 1924. The image above identifies it as a Saorstát Éireann, Irish Free State passport. It was a proud day when he received it because he had fought for freedom from British rule with the Irish Volunteers during the War of Independence (1919-1921).
Thomas served as Intelligence Officer to the Fifth Bantry Battalion of the Third Cork Brigade, and was one of General Michael Collins’ trusted Intelligence Officers in West Cork. He served as Collins’ election agent in Cork for the June 1922 general election. Later in 1922, he was appointed Liaison Officer for West Cork with responsibility for safeguarding the terms of the Truce.
Thomas joined the newly formed National Army after the Civil War (1922-1923). During the formation years of Óglaigh na hÉireann, he was one of the commissioned officers who helped lay the administrative foundations of the forces. He retired from the army in early 1923 and returned to the family law practice in his native Skibbereen. That same year, he was honoured to be appointed first State Solicitor for the West Riding of Cork, aged 27. His new passport lists his profession as State Solicitor.
Thomas’ passport tells an interesting story that has filled gaps in family history. His passport stamps show he travelled to France, entering at Boulogne-sur-Mer on 22nd August 1924, having crossed the English Channel. He travelled to France again the following year, entering at Dieppe, on September 2, 1925.
Thomas renewed his passport on July 20, 1926, and returned to France through Boulogne-sur-Mer on September 24, 1926. At renewal he had more travel plans in the works. Under “Observations” on page 5 a note indicates his intentions for “Travelling to Algiers”. He was planning his honeymoon.
Thomas married my grandmother Helen Grennan (1897-1973), on December 15, 1926, in St. Micheal’s Church in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Helen’s passport was issued the previous month, in November 1926. Helen’s profession is stated as Instructress. She was a poultry instructor working in West Cork where she met her betrothed. The only stamps on her passport relate to her honeymoon, entering France at Dieppe on December 18, 1926, and leaving from the same port on January 11, 1927, corresponding to her new husband’s stamps.
Preserved with their passports is a Cook’s International Travelling Tickets wallet containing an envelope inscribed “Order for Steamer Ticket (Marseilles-Algiers, return) to be exchanged for actual passage ticket at office of Compagnie Générale Transatlantique”. From the beginning of the 20th century, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique offered crossings between Marseille and Algiers, creating a tourist circuit in North Africa in the 1920s.
The newlyweds travelled from Dun Laoghaire through England, across the English Channel to France entering at Dieppe, by train to Marseilles from where they crossed to North Africa for a very exotic honeymoon.
Visit On the Move: A Century of the Irish Passport at EPIC.
General museum admission tickets required.
