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Many years ago I was told by my aunt that my grandfather, who held both the 1900 and 1903 Visit to Ireland medals, was awarded them “because the RIC selected men from each county who were over 6' in height". "He was" she went on to say, "one of the few men who were awarded both medals".

Now I am a great believer in family folk-lore and there is usually some truth in tales that are passed down through the generations, but they inevitably change in the telling and need to be treated with some caution. Over the years it transpired that, although my grandfather was at or about 6' in height, he actually received his 1900 medal whilst as a recruit in training at the Depot, and therefore qualified by 'being there' so to speak. In 1903, and based in Monaghan, he was 'told off' for duty in Belfast either on parade or fulfilling crowd control duties during the Visit there. So I tended to discount the 'selected men from each county' theory although it did trouble me that I was uncovering medal holders from counties to which I knew Victoria had never visited.

I recently uncovered a paper that showed that my old Aunt Agnes was right (she had a phenomenal memory); and I quote:

We have the pleasure in giving underneath the names of the 100 constables who, on account of their excellent character, splendid physique, and superbly gigantic appearance, have been selected from among the 12,000 members of the R.I.C. for duty in Dublin during Her Majesty's visit to Ireland.

An analysis of the names given shows that men were selected from all of the counties of Ireland with the surprising exceptions of Clare, Cork W.R., Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Meath, Mayo and Wicklow.

Within the force they were subsequently nicknamed 'The Giants' and they must have been a formidable sight.