Celebrating 100 years-The arrival of the first Gardaí to Moycullen

A momentous day in the village of Moycullen.

It was a momentous day in the village of Moycullen on the 4th October 1923 when the first Garda Síochána arrived. One sergeant and three Gardaí took over the policing of the district.

Leger recording names of first Gardaí stationed in Moycullen. Courtesy of the Garda Museum

The accommodation issue.

1n 1923 Moycullen was a small village with a few shops, public houses, a church, a school and a Co-Operative Store. It was generally a farming community and remained largely unchanged until the 1980s.

Moycullen village crossroads circa 1950, looking in the direction of Galway City. The rebuilt R.I.C. Barracks on the right was used by the Jubilee Nurses at the time of this photograph. Moycullen Heritage.

The original R.I.C. barracks was destroyed by a fire in 1922. Many R.I.C. barracks were attacked and destroyed across Ireland during this period of conflict surrounding the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Moycullen R.I.C. Barracks burnt in 1922

There was much consternation and discussion around the problem of where to accommodate the newly arrived Gardaí. Numerous correspondence went back and forth between the Civic Guard Superintendent, the Board of Works, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Garda Síochána. The issue of permanent barracks and accommodation for the Garda Síochána was in fact a national problem and was debated by the Government (Dail Eireann) for a number of years.

Mr. O’Higgins, Minister for Justice stated in 1924:

‘The object of the Bill which I am asking the Dáil to read a second time is to renew for a year the Act passed last year dealing with the compulsory acquisition of premises for the accommodation of the Civic Guard. The position at the moment is that out of a total establishment which provides for 837 stations, there are 756 occupied, leaving 81 to be still acquired and occupied. Now, of 756 occupied almost exactly half—376—are reported as unsuitable as permanent quarters, while 380 are reported as adequate for the permanent accommodation of the Gárda’.

^{PRIVATE BUSINESS. – CIVIC GUARD (ACQUISITION OF PREMISES) AMENDMENT BILL, 1924.—SECOND STAGE}

Inside the Co-Operative Store. Courtesy The Co-Operative Society

The National Army and An Garda Síochána were temporarily housed in the Co Operative Store. Courtesy of the Co operative Society.

The Co-Operative Store was considered the only possible location but it was already occupied by the  National Army. Eventually, one part of it was made available but unfortunately, the building was in very poor repair – the roof was leaking, the windows and doors were falling apart and the building was barely fit for habitation.

The situation was getting critical and there was even talk of closing the barracks in
Moycullen if the accommodation issue could not be resolved. Throughout 1924 discussions into the possibility of restoring the Co-Operative Store and making it the permanent garda barracks were ongoing.

Today the Co-Operative Store is still prominent in the centre of the village and has had many different businesses and owners over the years.

Co-Operative Building, Moycullen. Photo taken in 2026. Courtesy of Berni Higgins

A New Garda Barracks for Moycullen

However, it was then decided that a site should be purchased in or near the village and a new barracks built. In 1925 a site beside the Co-Operative Store was identified and deemed suitable. but the wheels of government moved slowly and it was May 1926 before the Board of Works, who were responsible for finding the site and building the barracks, were able to confirm that the legal formalities were in train. Then the plans for the new building had to be prepared and sent out for tender. Finally, a builder was appointed. The construction work was slow and it wasn’t until September 1927 that the new garda barracks was ready for occupation.

Moycullen Garda Station built in 1927. Courtesy Tomás O’Cadhain

So, a new chapter in the life of An Garda Síochána in Moycullen began.
The garda barracks is still a fine building in the centre of the village today and continues to serve the community.