Celebrating 100 years-Early Policing in Moycullen.

Moycullen Heritage

The Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) was the police force in Ireland from 1822 until 1922 when all of the Island was part of the United Kingdom. Its main function was to keep the peace and suppress armed rebellion. Over the years at least 44 R.I.C. men were stationed in Moycullen. In 1922 the R.I.C. were disbanded, as agreed in the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Constable Johnston Morrison (R.I.C.) served in Salthill, Barna and Moycullen between 1889-1912. Photo courtesy of the Morrison Family.

List of members of the Royal Irish Constabulary based in Moycullen.

On the 3^rd February 1922, Michael Collins, Chairman of the Provisional Government, arranged a meeting in the Gresham Hotel in Dublin for the purpose of setting up a committee to oversee the formation of a new police force.

Letter sent by Michael Collins on 3rd February, 1922 to the following individuals asking them if they would be interested in joining a committee to draft a scheme for the organisation of a new police force.Those in attendance: Richard Mulcahy, Minister of Defence, General Owen O’Duffy, Army Chief of Staff, Eamonn Duggan, R.I.C. Detective Inspector, Patrick Joseph Walsh, Brigadier Joe Ring, Colonel Patrick Brennan T.D. Photo courtesy of the Garda Museum

The Irish Defence Forces in Moycullen.

Prior to the establishment of the new police force the National Army (Óglaigh na hÉireann)  fulfilled an element of community policing in the interim between the R.I.C.’s disbandment and the formation of An Garda Síochána. Some servicemen were stationed in the Co-Operative Store in Moycullen village from October 1922 until October 1923. The National Army conducted a National Census, at midnight on the  12^th of November 1922 for the purpose of gathering information to assist the administrative staff to pay bills, feed and clothe the men, and help to regularise Army establishments around the country. There were 29 men stationed in the village on that evening, two officers, a company quarter master, two sergeants, two corporals and, twenty-two privates, all but one had home addresses from the County of Galway.

Private Patrick Acton, Aged 19 years, born in Knockaunranny, Moycullen. He served in ‘B’ Company, 4th Infantry Battalion, Claremorris Command 1924. Photo courtesy of the Acton Family.

List of members of the National Army stationed at the barracks in the Co-Operative Store, Moycullen on the 12th November 1922.

^{Details from the census of the National Forces, courtesy of Óglaigh na hÉireann Military Archives.}

The new police force was originally called the Civic Guard but the name was changed on the 8^th August 1923 to An Garda Síochána (meaning “Guardians of the Peace”).

Garda John Acton, born 30th April 1902 in Knockaunranny, Moycullen. He joined An Garda Síochána on 8th August 2023. Photo courtesy of the Acton family.