Discussion Board

Peerless armoured car in County Clare

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:14:28 PST

This photo is purportedly taken in County Clare. I believe its a Peerless armoured car and soldiers of the Tank Corps, rather than Free Staters. Can anyone identify the location? Note the image seems to be 'reversed'

Boardwalk Empire

feeds@yuku.com (caplestreetman) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:18:09 PST

Just been watching the latest episode of " Boardwalk Empire " on Sky Atlantic, a multi - million pound production from America, where the main character a - " Nucky Thompson " visits Belfast to meet the leaders of the I.R.A. to negotiate an arms deal involving Thompson Sub - Machine guns in exchange for whiskey . ( the programme is based in the 1920,s )

As " Nucky Thompson " is waiting at the docks to return to America, two " Black and Tans " appear in the background with what appear to be very clear red flashes on their headgear,, just walking by.

Just wondering if anyone else has seen the programme, and if they have been able to identify the badges to see if they are historically correct, I was completely taken aback by what I saw but someone in America has seen fit to include the "Black and Tans " and thinks it is important to the storyline. I look forward to any comments.

CSM

Gloves issued to the DMP

feeds@yuku.com (Ronan Crowley) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:52:39 PST

I write, new to this forum, with a rather specific and perhaps somewhat unusual query––any help would be greatly appreciated. In the “Circe” episode of James Joyce’s Ulysses, Joyce has his hero Leopold Bloom appear momentarily and arrestingly (in all senses of the word) wearing a policeman’s glove:

Hello!

I would appreciate help in making sense of my great-grandfather’s RIC record. Patrick O’Rourke, No. 45412, joined the force in May 1880.

First, the places where he was stationed. In the column “Allocation” it is stated “Monaghan November 1880” and “Belfast August 1888”, which is clear enough, but then in the column “Observations” it says “Con. in Leitrim and Roscommon; Cavan and Fermanagh.” No dates are given. Does that mean that he served as a constable in these latter four counties only for short periods?

Secondly, abbreviations: in the column “Rewards, etc.” I read...

PSNI Museum worth a visit

feeds@yuku.com (eamann) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:40:16 PST

Hello!

I would warmly recommend a visit to the PSNI Museum in Belfast. It is small (just a big office) but interesting, the staff are friendly and helpful and you receive a copy of the Museum Guide. This very nicely produced booklet is richly illustrated and contains a good summary of the history of policing in Ireland.

A great resource for the period 1897 to 1922

feeds@yuku.com (eamann) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:31:08 PST

Hello!

If you are researching men who served in the RIC between 1897 and 1922, you should try and consult this valuable resource. During those years the rank and file published a monthly bulletin called the "Constabulary Gazette". It contains news about the movement of men from one place to another, promotions, marriages, births, retirements and deaths. Of interest also to family historians will be the "news" sections, one for the country in general, one for Belfast and one for the Dublin HQ. Not to be underestimated is the sports sections with its lists of team members. Finally, the Gazette published several photos per issue of individuals, the members of a particular barrack or a sports team.

Thanks to the Gazette I learned that my great-grandfather Patrick O'Rourke had been injured in Belfast in 1898 (and not 1901 as I had thought) and that his injury was the result of having been hit with a "deacon pole".

The...

Longford.

feeds@yuku.com (mheslin) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:25:18 PST

I would like to encourage discussion about Longford during the War of Independence. My grandfather was Adjutant/Intelligence Officer of the Longford Brigade and I have been reading the witness statements of pretty much all of the Brigade who contributed statements to the Irish Defence Dept in the 1940s/50s. It is fascinating to read the different accounts about particular incidents such as the raid on Longford Barracks, The Battle of Ballinalee and the Clonfin Ambush by those who were there as well as the various trials and tribulations. Any contributions to this thread would be gratefully received and where I can find reference to anything, I'll gladly contribute.
All the best,
Mik H.

District Codes

feeds@yuku.com (Devbrady) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 03:44:42 PST

Good evening.

Is there a list of districts and their corresponding codes available? I have a P42 constabulary carbine marked C-26. I wondered which district that related to.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

DB

Barracks Sergeants

feeds@yuku.com (Paddy Mayne) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 20:00:17 PST

Another one that might arouse a bit of interest. In some of the books I have read on the 1919-1921 period (some of the same books as yourself I think CSM) I have read about a specific rank within the RIC known as Barrack Sergeant. From what I have read these were ex military who were recruited with the specific task of building defences around police barracks. In most cases they seem to have been very successful in that task.

Does anyone have any more detailed information on them at all? I'm thinking of questions such as were they regarded as Black and Tans? Did they concentrate on one barracks each, or were they detailed to cover several stations ina specific area? Did they have any other functional police duties etc?

The Shooting of Thomas McCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, , March 1920

feeds@yuku.com (caplestreetman) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:25:23 PST

The following is from a Witness Statement made by Michael J. Feeley, ex - member of the R.I.C., it was completed and signed 27th November 1947, some twenty seven years after the events, for those readers unfamiliar with the Witness Statements, an explanation of the W.S. is under my post on " Q " Co. Auxiliary Division R.I.C.

BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY 1913 - 21 STATEMENT BY WITNESS, DOCUMENT NO. W.S.68

WITNESS

MICHAEL J. FEELEY - IDENTITY - EX - MEMBER OF R.I.C.

SUBJECT

Shooting of Thomas McCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, March 1920

Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness

TO BE KEPT UNDER SEAL UNTIL 29/11/1972

THOMAS McCURTAIN

A Conference was held at Union Quay Barrack, Cork, on the 19.3.1920. The Conference was called by the Military Authorities to discuss with the Police Authority the I.R.A. activities of Thomas McCurtain, the then Lord Mayor of Cork.

Representing the...

DIVIDED FAMILIES

feeds@yuku.com (SeanRyan) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:18:35 PST

My paternal Grandfather Christopher Ryan was an RIC Sergeant in Tralee until 1920 and his brother Michael Joseph Ryan was Sergeant in other Kerry barracks including Derrycunnihy and Newtownsandes until the same time.

Some of Christopher's sons were jailed for republican activities including Jackie who was to go on and win 6 All-Ireland medals with Kerry.

My maternal Granduncle Daniel Healy was Commanding Officer of the 1^st Battalion, Kerry No. 1 Brigade and marched through Tralee at the top of a parade of several hundred men with Austin Stack. He was arrested several times and interned and jailed. He was involved in hunger strikes in Cork Jail with Terence McSweeney and in Wales. I have photos of him in uniform.

Incidently he is not the Danny Healy of Headford ambush fame or the Sailor Dan Healy involved in the shooting of two brothers in Kenmare.

It was...

Killing of Sergeant Thomas Craddock

feeds@yuku.com (SeanRyan) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:06:34 PST

Attached link contains newspaper reports of the killing of Sergeant Thomas Craddock from Ballinasloe in Athlone in 1920

http://www.ballinasloe.or...icles/article.php?ID=101

Fort Falkland, Offaly

feeds@yuku.com (stecallaghan) — Sun, 15 May 2011 22:02:10 PST

Hi all,

I am wondering does anyone have anymore information on Fort Falkland in Banagher, Co. Offaly. It is recorded as being a Constabulary Barracks on old 6 inch maps. I have inspected the remains of the barracks myself and noted how well the magazine is preserved. I would love to see period pictures if they exist!

The information recorded so far on the Barracks is basic and there is lots more to find out.

From wiki

This former constabulary barracks was built around 1800. Irregular in plan and now in ruins, it comprises a partially roughcast rendered rubble limestone enclosing wall with a cut stone segmental-headed entrance to the east and is situated to the south of the River Shannon, adjacent to the bridge. Remains of structures within the enclosure include a barrel-vaulted powder magazine built around 1806, with a gun platform above. These walls are thought to be the perimeter walls of Fort Falkland from 1642.

Fergal Keane - The Story of Ireland

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:56:05 PST
For viewers in the UK, a series presented hy Fergal Keane - The Story of Ireland - starts on 23 May on BBC2. Irish viewers may have already seen it earlier this year:

The Story Of Ireland is a major new landmark series from BBC Northern Ireland examining the history of Ireland and its impact on the wider world, from the earliest times right up to the present day. This compelling five-part series is written and presented by BBC correspondent Fergal Keane.

Over the course of the programmes Fergal travels across three continents, tracing the events, the people and the influences that shaped modern Ireland

Fergal Keane's great grandfather was a Sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary (Sgt Patrick Hasset, of Ardmore). We shall see if his series repeats the usual cliches about the RIC or if he has a more educated outlook but from a piece...

Irish Genealogy Roadshow

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:16:11 PST
Turtle Bunbury is heading on the road this summer as part of the Genealogy Roadshow's historical swat team. This pioneering new series is to be aired on Ireland's RTE1 television channel in July and August. Every week, Turtle and his fellow sleuths, genealogists Nicola Morris and John Grenham, will meet members of the public at Roadshow events across Ireland and endeavour to work out who is related to someone famous or connected to a historical event. Perhaps they might even solve a family mystery or two along the way. The series will be hosted by Derek Mooney. If you think your family history is worth investigating on 'The Genealogy Roadshow',

Beara RIC Photos

feeds@yuku.com (SeanRyan) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:47:44 PST

RIC photos from Beara Peninsula on this link

http://www.westcork.org/coppermine2/thumbnails.php?album=13

Book "Statebuilding and Police Reform-The freedom of security" Barry J Ryan

feeds@yuku.com (SeanRyan) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:24:54 PST
This book has been written by my son Barry. He dedicates the first paragraph of the Preface (attached) to the Ryan Family policing history.

Head Constable Eugene Igoe

feeds@yuku.com (Paddy Mayne) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:20:28 PST
Do any of the forum members have any information on Eugene Igoe?

Crossley Tenders

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:06:10 PST
To the member who joined a while back with an interest in Crossleys and other RIC transport, would you be interested in the details of what was carried on board as equipment and spares?

Murder at Listowel Railway Station

feeds@yuku.com (SeanRyan) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:51:39 PST

Sergeant M. J. Ryan Newtownsandes, Co. Kerry arrested a man from Cuss in December 1912 in relation to the murder of Thomas Lyons in Listowel on 22 November 1912. He was the sixth man arrested in relation to the case and was remanded in custody by J. Woulfe-Flanagan, R.M.

Thomas Lyons from Islandanny was 34 years of age and was killed at Listowel Railway Station. He had just returned from Australia.

Dr. Clancy held an inquest and the inquest found that death was due to tetanus resulting from a compound dislocation of the left thumb.