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This certificate relates to my Grandfather RIC Sergeant Michael 'Joe' Guilfoyle.He was born in 1890 in Enniscrone,Co Sligo,son of RIC Constable Edward Guilfoyle 40909 who was stationed in the village and Margaret Guilfoyle (nee Lenehan).He was the eldest of six children.In June of 1900 they moved to Ballina,Co Mayo where his father was moved to serve and they resided beside the Barracks in Church Rd,Ballina.

On 10^th August 1908 he joined the RIC however was discharged as unfit by the Surgeon only to be reappointed in February 1909 where after his initial training was posted in Co Galway.In 1911 he was stationed in Milltown in Co Galway,a fact that can be ascertained by the fact he helped with the completion the 1911 Milltown Census.His Sergeant in Milltown was Patrick Power and he was posted there with four other Constables.He was promoted to Sergeant on 1^st March 1921 and was sent to Belmullet in Co.Mayo where he served until his disbandment on 27^th April 1922.He was disbanded at Castlebar RIC Barracks which served as the County Barracks

From there he travelled to Liverpool looking for work but was unsuccessful and hence on 7^th October 1922 he sailed from Liverpool on the 'Celtic' bound for New York where he worked for the next 9 years as a builder with his brother in law Harry Hearns.He told my mother he never had a days holiday apart from Christmas whilst working there.

Towards the end of 1931 he returned to Northern Ireland where I believe he lived with his brother RUC Constable William Guilfoyle in Belfast before finding lodging in Warrenpoint,Co Down where he managed the building of his home.He married Violet Hearns (sister of the famous Garda Boxer Dick Hearns) of Ballina on 5^th December 1933 in the Pro Cathedral in Dublin and they had two children Michael (my father)and Edward who are still alive today.

He lived out the rest of his life peacefully in Warrenpoint and was an active man to the end of his life.He died after a short illness on 25^th December 1974 (a date I can remember well) aged 84 and is burried in Warrenpoint.

May he rest in peace.