From “Tales of the Irish Police – by one of themselves”; Dublin, 1888
In the year 1865, when the Fenian conspiracy was approaching its climax, a certain gentleman in England got into the confidence of an Irish labourer, who admitted that he belonged to the conspirators.
“ Well now Pat,” said the gentleman, “do you really believe you could ever beat the Queen's soldiers if you rose in Ireland?”
“Troth could we,” replied Pat; “we're not a hair afeard of the soldiers. If we all rose as one man in Ireland we'd make short work of the redcoats.”
“Well then,” said the enquirer, “what stops you from trying an insurrection?”
“Why then, to tell you the truth,” candidly replied Pat, “we're afeard of them damned polis!”
