Badge of the Royal Irish Constabulary

A County History & Genealogy Archive

The Roscommon Constabulary

The Royal Irish Constabulary in Co. Roscommon · 1820–1922

The station party of Castlerea R.I.C. Barracks, a group of uniformed constables, photographed around 1920

The men of the Royal Irish Constabulary who served in County Roscommon — and the 3,406 Roscommon men who served everywhere else.

The “Station Party”, Castlerea R.I.C. Barracks, circa 1920.

Welcome

On the 1st January 1820, Henry McGrath became the first Roscommon-born native to be appointed to the Irish Constabulary. He was 20 years old, 5'7" tall, a Protestant, previously employed as a labourer.

On the 27th December 1919, Major Cyril Francis Fleming was appointed to organise the recruitment drive for the R.I.C. Fleming set up an office in London, based in New Scotland Yard, and recruited both Black & Tans and Auxiliaries. The first Black & Tan recruits joined the R.I.C. in January 1920 and, after a four-week training course, were allocated to stations around Ireland.

The last R.I.C. recruit trained under the old 26-week system joined on the 2nd December 1919. The last member trained in the normal way held number 70002; all members with subsequent numbers underwent the four-week course and were known as the Black & Tans.

The last Roscommon native appointed under the old system was Valentine Patrick Greer, who joined on the 2nd December 1919 and was discharged two days later as medically unfit.

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