The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CENTENARY events for An Garda Síochána must avoid linking the force to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD has insisted.
In 2020, when he was Mayor of Clare, Deputy Cathal Crowe initiated a boycott of the ill-fated national commemoration plan for the RIC.
Last week, at a meeting of the local Joint Policing Committee (JPC), he warned against conflating An Garda with the RIC, which was set up during British rule in Ireland.
Deputy Crowe’s remarks followed an outline by Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran of plans to mark the 100th anniversary of formation of the Civic Guards/An Garda Síochána in February 1922.
“I’m glad you’re holding commemorations,” he said. “We’re delighted with everything you do as a force. You should be very proud of your 100-year history, but your history began in 1922.
“Please resist the minority effort to link yourselves to the Royal Irish Constabulary, because your lineage doesn’t belong there.”
Referring to the first Garda Commissioner, Michael Staines from Mayo, Deputy Crowe noted his political affiliations.
“Michael Staines was a proud Republican,” he said. “You’re a force that was born out of Irish Statehood. You are the longest force here on this island. We are extremely proud of what you do, but also have the pulse of the public in County Clare when you go about the commemorations. We’ll be very much with you and thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Outlining plans for the centenary, Chief Superintendent Colleran said a number of local and national events will take place.
“The one line I’m sure you’ve all heard is that ‘An Garda Síochána will succeed, not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people’,” he said.
“That separates us from all other jurisdictions. In the lead up the anniversary of the first Civic Guards arriving in Clare, there will be a number of events.
“There’ll be open days and events at the library here in Ennis. There will be centenary medals given to all Gardaí and retired members. On top of that, there’ll be a number of events where we get the opportunity to showcase how An Garda Síochána interweaves with society. We have a an email Clare.Centenary@garda.ie.
“We are very proud of the community we serve and this is an opportunity where if people have photos or stories they want to share, we’ll be able to do it. There are multiple platforms, though the library or presentations or medal ceremonies.”
The first Civic Guards arrived in Clare on October 7, 1922. Commemorative events and initiatives are planned for the year ahead include the presentation of a centenary service medal to all serving and retired Garda members, the publication of two books on the organisation in its first 100 years and the renovation of the Garda memorial cenotaph.
