State Award - The Killererin Connection

Mr. Tom Dolan(left) of Brooklyn, USA, brother in-law of Mrs. Mry Dolan (nee McWalter) and uncle of Bina Devaney, Lissavalley, is seen here receiving the Conspicuous Service Cross from Congressman Zeferetti. The award, the State's highest, was signed by Governor Hugh Carey an old friend and neighbour of Tom, who served in the U.S. army.

Photo: Bina Devaney, Lissavalley

Tom Dolan, USA

Tom Dolan was in the Air Corps as a flight engineer and aerial gunner in the North African and Italian campaigns during World War 2. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for valour during his fifteen combat missions. He was responsible for rescuing two Catholic Bishops during the War and was granted a special audience with Pope Pius X11.

His Killererin Connection

His parents, Johnny who was from Brierfield and Sabina (nee Concannon) his wife, who was from Moylough were married in Moylough but shortly afterwards emigrated to New York where their first child, Tom was born in 1906. While he was still a baby, his parents returned home to Ireland, to look after their parents and the farm.They had nine children and when Tom was fifteen years old, his uncle Willie and aunt Margaret Dolan brought him out to America again where he eventually joined the Air Force. He visited his home back in Moylough just once.

Author

First published in Out and About in Killererin 2012 p. 14

Keywords

Johnny Dolan - Brierfield (1)

Killererin (163)

Sabina Concannon - Moylough (1)

Tom Dolan (1)

Page last updated:

28/04/2025

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