Bonn na Dála

"My uncle, Michael F. O’Doherty, died in 1943 and this Dáil medal was presumably awarded to him in 1921 or 1922. A limited amount of information about these Dáil medals has been compiled by Austin Fennessy on the website of the Medal Society of Ireland (www.msoi.eu). This can be found on the website by searching for ‘Bonn na Dála’. We know that they are silver, minted in Dublin in 1921 and 1922 and we can identify at least one silversmith who produced them. I am not aware of any information available that shows any list of recipients, dates awarded, reasons for awards or identities of decision makers. Michael O’Doherty was a student at St. Patrick’s College in Drumcondra and was described as a ‘cadet’ in the IRA. There is documentation covering his later activities including service in the anti-treaty forces, work as National Teacher, GAA administrator, and service in the LSF/LDF during the Second World War period. There are many questions. What service did he perform for the Dáil? Were the medals paid for and by whom? Was Michael Collins involved? Why have no records survived? "