Many of the personalities noted in this section were, of course, members of the Irish police forces. They have left their mark on history by virtue of their deeds, or the way in which their actions influenced and inspired others. Many others of the Irish police lived out their lives 'in quiet desperation' as Thoreau once said (1). But of equal interest are the sons and descendants of some of those men, who rose to greater heights, shaped, in some way, by their upbringing in the little police barracks of Ireland. I shall be covering a few examples of such men and their families in this forum.
Brother Alphonsus Price, Principal, Marcantonio Colonna College Rome
Patrick Alphonsus T Price was born in Ballyporeen, Co. Tipperary on the 14 March 1901. His father was Sgt Henry Price (47249), in charge of the police station at Ballyporeen, married to Margaret and with 4 other children; Ellen (Nell), the eldest, and 3 boys Leo, Joe and Edward, all living in the barracks (3). Four other constables were also stationed there - John Derby, William Pigott and two men known to history only by their initials - TM and PK (2).
Henry Price was a Kerry man, born at Aghalee near Aghadoe, just north west of Killarney. Obviously an ambitious and capable man, he sat the examinations for the rank of Head Constable on 11 June 1901 at the Depot, one of 82 applicants for only 7 vacancies. With him on that day were two fellow Sergeants from Tipperary, Patrick McBride and John Kennedy (7). Unsuccesful on that occasion, in 1903 he was transferred to Tipperary town, when finally on 15 Sep 1909 he was promoted to Head Constable and this time transferred to Moville, Co. Donegal.
Once again the family lived at the barracks, although at this time Alphonsus remained in Kerry at boarding school. The family had grown, another 3 girls and a boy - Agnes; Mary Christina, Hanoria, and Daniel Thomas (5). Also in the same building were four constables, JA Gillen, Felix McGeown, Con T C and Con TD (4). Three other police lived in Moville, Acting Sergeant Michael McAndrew, Con. James Dougald and Con James McGuire.
In 1915 Head Constable Price was moved again, this time a little closer to home, at Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. He survived the Spanish Flu in 1918, and resigned the force at age 60 in 1920, following the intimidation and attacks prevalent on the police and their familes at that time.
During the period in Rathkeale the family came together again briefly, with Alphonsus now attending school in Cappagh. His elder brother Albert joined the Christian Brothers and Leo had joined the Army and received his commission in the Dardanelles. He fought on in Salonika and France without mishap, but was killed on the 19th July 1944 in the City of London, by a V2 flying bomb ( 8 ). Joe went off to Boston with an uncle. A flavour of life at the barracks 'home' in those days:-
Of passing interest is that he was a relation on my mother's side of the family. In 1950 she visited him in Rome and was introduced to Cardinal Giovani Battista Montini. "That man," said Alphonsus, "will be the next Pope". He had an uncanny knack of predicting the papal succession, and true to form in 1963 Cardinal Montini became Pope Paul VI.
Fortunately for posterity Brother Alphonsus left a detailed account of his life in the form of a privately printed book (9), a copy of which is in our possession. It is clear that the religious instruction and practice passed down by his father and mother greatly influenced his life, and led him on the road from Rathkeale to Rome.
References
Brother Alphonsus Price, Principal, Marcantonio Colonna College Rome
Patrick Alphonsus T Price was born in Ballyporeen, Co. Tipperary on the 14 March 1901. His father was Sgt Henry Price (47249), in charge of the police station at Ballyporeen, married to Margaret and with 4 other children; Ellen (Nell), the eldest, and 3 boys Leo, Joe and Edward, all living in the barracks (3). Four other constables were also stationed there - John Derby, William Pigott and two men known to history only by their initials - TM and PK (2).
Henry Price was a Kerry man, born at Aghalee near Aghadoe, just north west of Killarney. Obviously an ambitious and capable man, he sat the examinations for the rank of Head Constable on 11 June 1901 at the Depot, one of 82 applicants for only 7 vacancies. With him on that day were two fellow Sergeants from Tipperary, Patrick McBride and John Kennedy (7). Unsuccesful on that occasion, in 1903 he was transferred to Tipperary town, when finally on 15 Sep 1909 he was promoted to Head Constable and this time transferred to Moville, Co. Donegal.
Once again the family lived at the barracks, although at this time Alphonsus remained in Kerry at boarding school. The family had grown, another 3 girls and a boy - Agnes; Mary Christina, Hanoria, and Daniel Thomas (5). Also in the same building were four constables, JA Gillen, Felix McGeown, Con T C and Con TD (4). Three other police lived in Moville, Acting Sergeant Michael McAndrew, Con. James Dougald and Con James McGuire.
In 1915 Head Constable Price was moved again, this time a little closer to home, at Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. He survived the Spanish Flu in 1918, and resigned the force at age 60 in 1920, following the intimidation and attacks prevalent on the police and their familes at that time.
During the period in Rathkeale the family came together again briefly, with Alphonsus now attending school in Cappagh. His elder brother Albert joined the Christian Brothers and Leo had joined the Army and received his commission in the Dardanelles. He fought on in Salonika and France without mishap, but was killed on the 19th July 1944 in the City of London, by a V2 flying bomb ( 8 ). Joe went off to Boston with an uncle. A flavour of life at the barracks 'home' in those days:-
"At night the Rosary was said by all, nothing being allowed to interfere with it. Sometimes my eldest sister might be a bit late, but was severely called to order by father afterwards".Alphonsus completed his training and in September 1920 was selected to go to Rome, where he was to spend the rest of his life. He lived an taught at the Istituto Marcantonio Colonna, the Irish Christian Brothers school. He became an influential and well known figure around the Vatican and saw the Inauguration of seven Popes, the rise of Mussolini, the Occupation and Liberation of Rome, and the beatification and canonisation of St. Maria Goretti.
Of passing interest is that he was a relation on my mother's side of the family. In 1950 she visited him in Rome and was introduced to Cardinal Giovani Battista Montini. "That man," said Alphonsus, "will be the next Pope". He had an uncanny knack of predicting the papal succession, and true to form in 1963 Cardinal Montini became Pope Paul VI.
Fortunately for posterity Brother Alphonsus left a detailed account of his life in the form of a privately printed book (9), a copy of which is in our possession. It is clear that the religious instruction and practice passed down by his father and mother greatly influenced his life, and led him on the road from Rathkeale to Rome.
References
