Martin Foley was born on the 21st March 1887 at Curreentorpan, Fairymount, Co. Roscommon, to Thomas Foley, a farmer, and his wife Winifred (née Egan). Martin was the second born of a family of four, having an older brother and a younger brother and sister.
On the 3rd July 1908 Martin Foley was appointed to the R.I.C. at the age of 21 years. He is recorded as being 5'10⅛" tall, a Catholic, single, with a previous occupation as a labourer. Upon completion of training at the R.I.C. Depot, Phoenix Park, Dublin, on the 26th January 1909, Constable Martin Foley, 64007, was allocated to Galway West Riding, where he was stationed at Roundstone, Kilkerrin, Carna, Currandrum, Gurraun Hut, and Oranmore.
The Roscommon Messenger reported at the time:
“The funeral of the late Constable Foley, who was shot dead at Merlin Park, near Galway, on Saturday afternoon, took place from the County Hospital, Galway, on Monday morning at 10 o'clock. The remains were taken to Castlerea in the police motor lorry, which was provided with an escort of eight men. A party of fifty local police, under County Inspector Rutledge and District Inspectors Cruise and Sugrue, together with 150 military from Renmore, under Major Veidham, and a detachment of the 6th Dragoon Guards, marched as far as the new cemetery. As the remains were being taken through the gate of the infirmary the Last Post was sounded. Right Rev. Monsignor Considine, Adm, VG, officiated.”
Martin Foley is buried in his family plot in the cemetery at Fairymount, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.
