Postcards to the RIC hut

A collection of old postcards recently rediscovered among a family collection in a house in Kilbarron, North Tipperary harks back to an interesting aspect of life in County Clare over 100 years ago.

Constable James Hamilton of the Royal Irish Constabulary was based at the RIC hut in Tierna, Ruan in 1906. He was assigned to protection duties. The huts were established to protect unpopular landlords and families who had occupied evicted lands.
Constable Hamilton collected cards depicting County Clare locations and posted many to his family and friends in Tipperary.
The Ennis RIC barracks, which was featured in many postcards series, including the famous Lawrence Collection, was among the selection found in Kilbarron. The imposing building, now headquarters for the Clare Reserve Defence Forces, had been the home of the Crowe family. Steele’s Rock, on the Lifford Road side of the River Fergus, is named after Tom Steele, who sat there in the hope of catching a glimpse of Matilda Crowe, the object of his desire who did not reciprocate his interest.