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FORMED IN THE turbulent period between the War of Independence and the Civil War, An Garda Síochána (AGS) was tasked with restoring law and order in the new Irish Free State.
A century later, with the evolution of crime and following major societal changes, policing faces new challenges in a very different Ireland. In my book The Guardians – 100 Years of An Garda Síochána, I examine the challenges that the AGS faced during its early days, and how its history paved the way for the organisation we know now.
Each day since its formation, AGS has faced challenges in some form or another, and like any police service they will continue to do so – and how they cope with these challenges will be measured in the public satisfaction rate they obtain.
Although not perfect, and in no way dismissing individual and organisational mistakes of the past, here in Ireland our national police service maintains one of the highest public satisfaction rates of any policing service in the world.
Major challenge
We do not have to travel far along the lifeline of AGS to discover the first major challenge that the fledgling police force faced.
When new recruits from around the country arrived at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) on and after 21 February 1922, many of them had served in the national movement between 1916 and 1921 and were recommended by the officers and clergymen in their home parishes.
These young men had ideals and ideas of why they were there and what their new role in their new country would entail.
Many of these aspirations were dashed when after eviction from the RDS, they marched in pouring rain to a nearby train station and found themselves in Kildare. They were allocated a small section of the old Artillery Barracks, recently vacated by crown forces. Their new billets had recently been used as stables, and their first evening was spent cleaning out dung in the darkness.
To complete their introduction, it was found that all their bedding had been thoroughly soaked during the train journey to Kildare. Welcome to An Garda Síochána!
Kildare Mutiny
Not the romantic start many believed they would encounter. Life in Kildare did not improve for the new recruits and the Kildare Mutiny almost disestablished the newly formed police force.
By 15 May 1922, seven of the eight companies of gardaí in training went into open revolt, their main grievance being that their supervisors and superiors almost all came from the old Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), or the enemy, as many would have thought.
Added to this growing air of discontentment was a small number of anti-treaty men who had joined in the RDS and who became active in subverting the morale of trainees.
The first Garda Commissioner, Michael Staines, and his officers, were unable to restore order, and swiftly departed for Dublin. On 16 May, an army unit with an armoured car arrived at the camp. They were confronted by 300 armed and irate recruits, and the army withdrew without a gun fired.
Eventually with the intervention of Michael Collins, and through further negotiations, tensions eased – but not before the garda armoury had been pillaged by anti-treaty forces.
A Commission of Inquiry was set up, and the mutiny led to the resignation of the first Garda Commissioner.
By accident more than design, the unarmed ethos of the modern AGS stems from the Kildare Mutiny and the famous statement from Michael Staines was born: “The Garda Síochána will succeed, not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people”.
The Guardians – 100 Years of An Garda Síochána 1922-2022, compiled by Garda Stephen Moore is in bookshops now, priced €29.99. It is nominated in the An Post Irish Book Awards in TheJournal.ie’s sponsored category, Best Irish Published Book of the Year. Find the full list of nominees and more information at the awards website.
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Alan Kelly….. the final nail in the Labour coffin
@Tjamr: nooooo,shur what harm can he do,he’s never there .
@Tjamr: they will get even less votes next time around with him as leader.. Don’t know what Labour are thinking
@Ross: he hasn’t been elected yet. I’m sure Labour Party members are well aware of the mistake they would be making by electing him. They can’t be that unsavvy. Or…..
@Tjamr: Wrong man . Will always be tarred with water and housing legacy
@Tjamr: He is in a nutshell why Labour are toast, water charges for the champagne socialists lol, tax people to death and the money goes into the usual parasites pockets, they are no better then FFG.
@Tjamr: I think he will be box office in opposition and will thrive like young Gilmore a few years back. Problem is everyone is in opposition at present?
@alan: he doesnt think what he has done were mistakes. His arrogance would be a nail in the coffin alright
@Tjamr: Alan Kelly has seen the light;
@Tjamr: 2 fools for the price of one
@Tjamr: Seemingly not , now their dragging back Aodhan O’ Riordain . If I remember correctly he didn’t get voted in the last election & so joined the Seanad which he had previously wanted abolished! Ya couldn’t make it up!
@David Glynn: let’s not forget when he announced rent controls but gave plenty of notice so the landlords could get one last rent increase in before the measures took effect. Pure mule.
@Tjamr: Whoever you are anonymous smart arse you must you must be delighted that your stupid predictable comment has so many likes.
Well the party returned 6 TDs and has 4 Senators including two who reclaimed their seats and 59 Councillers. So no funeral service needed. On the don’t disrespect mandates narrative you got that wrong. A non violent party with a proud tradition going back to 1912 it has learned the lesson not to be the rescue service again when FF collapse the economy.Twice bitten
I, for one, am going back to Labour under a new leader.
They deserve a chance and if the trolls don’t like them well vote for someone else
@David Glynn: 59 councillors sounds pretty impressive until you realise there are 949 of them
As you seem like a low IQ individual I’ll do the maths for you, that’s 6.2%
@Vin: Is that short for vinegar. Unlike you when I went to school I paid attention. Its more than People before Profit who like you are adept at being d heads.Join the throng of lefty voters who are intellectually challenged. You need a pinch of salt.
Goodbye labour
@Ciaran Goggins: ill always remember being in a water protest outside the dail banging on my drum and kelly coming out just after labour election loss 2016 to 7 tds (no ministerial car). I started slow drumming and shouting bye bye …bye bye …bye bye
@Matthew O’Kane:
I was there as well and the satisfaction was fantastic to see this man and his party decimated.
Labour have lost any scrap of respect they ever earned and as long as there are any of the old guard the party will only go one way.
Not one of them got in on a first count , in fact if it wasn’t for transfer votes they wouldn’t have any seats.
I wouldn’t like to see this once proud party being destroyed because I believe we need them.
They need to start from the grassroots again.
This Kelly fella has been chasing that rusty crown for years and was perhaps the most hated man in Ireland (next to hogan)
@Matthew O’Kane: i was thinking the same thing when Ruth coppinger wasn’t elected, was a great day for country.
@Ciaran Goggins: they are gone already.
@Matthew O’Kane: wouldn’t you be better off getting a job and provide for your family instead of living off us, drums my ar*e
Mr Irish water great stuff
@JJandtim Dwyer: that lad couldn’t organise a session in a brewery! He will finish off what Joan the moan started in finishing off the party and good riddance!!
Lab our will never be forgiven for what they let FG do to the people
@John Hartigan: but SF will!!!!
@John Hartigan: yes, because Labour was the majority party in government and could call the shots, if you’ll excuse the sinn fein expression.
A TD PROTECTING HIS INCOME AND LAVISH EXPENSES
Kelly, the face of water charges, hope he gets it,they were not thinking of working class families when they tried to ram water charges down our throats. The public will never trust labour again and keep working to wipe them out.
“I won (glug glug glug glug)” exclaimed the new captain of the Titanic….
@The Risen: alan kelly some fella his brothers big into water privatisation i hear, hes for austerity i hear that kelly fella loves to bailout banks i hear that alan kelly seems a perfect fit for head snout
How far they have fallen
Sad day for Labour Party… What a tosser
Why doesn’t Alan Kelly just go join FG, he is FG through and through FFS. He has never supported the working classes he claims to represent.
Wise. Needs to concentrate on holding onto his seat for the next election in 2020.
@David Shiels: like being asked to.pick between diarrhea or vomiting.
If Labour really want to show they care about the ordinary worker again then I’m not sure the man who tried to turn public water into a private commodity is the person to lead that.
@Rochelle: I’ve always wondered which wealthy individual would make the Irish Water public utility into a private business and then screw everyone? Maybe some shady individual in the background of FFG & Labour dangling the puppet strings for a few crumbs?
Let’s have AK…
Should be the end then..
Last time I check the issue and reason why he’s currently no leader was because no one liked him.
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: typical troll comment
@Margaret Mcgarry: usually I’d agree with you Margaret but really it’s true no one likes Alan Kelly
@Bananaquit: really if you say so are you on your lunch break
@Margaret Mcgarry: nobody 2nd his last run
Failed to make the Tipperary quota in 2016 GE… Failed to make the Tipperary quota in 2020 GE… Leadership material all right !!
Pity the people that live in Alan Kelly’s constituency…oh hang on, they voted him back in. As you were.
@Ricky: He didn’t get the quota. Slunk in on transfers.
CLOWN
Not a chance.
Alan ‘The Meter’ Kelly let’s never forget Shame on labour
The facial expressions of every party member in that photo really says a lot
I really dislike Alan “power is a drug” Kelly
I think i saw them meeting in a phone box earlier on today
He’s also come out as Heisenberg
Jaysus the head on him!!
What a clown!
Who knows Alan just might turn it around.
@DERRY1973: That’s taking optimism to a whole new level
Now I’m a former Labour party supporter and also agree with comments re IW charges (I was on big protests before!) but just want to be objective here.As a new SF voters,I think all parties should be allowed a chance to develop and grow,even change policies and Labour should be allowed to do the same.Alan Kelly did an excellent job being vice chairman of PAC plus on Health Committee.He was tremendous help to those affected by Cervical Check scandal on all Committees &in Dail and as someone who lost a close relative to cancer and close relative who had cancer treatment,I know how invaluable support is.
We caught a glimpse ,when votes been counted, of the families of those who put themselves forwards for Election and a glimpse of the ordinary man and woman behind the prospective politican.Now I’m always attacking bad policies but try not to attack the person otherwise you lose whatever argument you’re trying to make.
So wishing him good luck with transforming the party and if there are things for politicans to learn from the General Election is :to listen,no spin or spoof, identify the real issues affecting people and put forwards real solutions.
@Melissa Mahony: You’re ugly
@Nuala Mc Namara: You casually claim that you’re always attacking bad policies and then say you’re a new SF voter in the same post. That’s a bit of a contradiction in terms.
@Damon16: SF don’t have any bad policies,Damon
@Nuala Mc Namara: something that’s impossible is inherently a bad policy. They made a lot of promises they knew they wouldnt be held to account for.
If I promise a free lambo for every household is that a good policy, or is it made up nonsense
@Vin: Give examples of SF’s ‘impossible’ policies!
LOL
If Elected Kelly , will change the name of the so called Labour party to Baby Blueshirts. An apt name for them.
They taught they were funny and we were stupid enough to pay water tax for Fine gael denis o brien metre scam and the giv him the utility like topaz siteserve actavo esat tv licence independent news and media aib/ boi debt write offs by taxpayer banks etc
But it wiped them out thank God
@Tom o brien: best comment yet…. So articulate and to the point….. Not!!
Hold it. Sounds like someone from the Gunfight at the OK Corral.
@Martin O’Reilly: isn’t Aodhan against building houses in Dublin
This is the nail in the coffin for labour.
A complete Cvnt
The puss on him
He’s the worst td ever
@Adrienne Howard Maher: Wolves are some team at the moment
@Adrienne Howard Maher: How Dare you! what about the other Liebour Parasites. Education is the great Liberator? Rory Quinn increased College fees after signing a pledge not to. Omadan O Riordan and Kelly, are like two Baldy Men fighting over a Comb.
Get ta fxxx
Thought it was the title for his new rap song there for a minute
I think Ged and Alan are good guys….
A former Labour minister In a FineGael led Govt who was hell bent on implementing a cruel FineGael inspired austerity tax that involved doubly taxing working people for one public they’ve been paying for all their lives.
He might feel the apologies are done with and he may have spoken the words but I don’t feel the sincerity.
But if it finishes this Labour Party for once and for all it’s probably the best move.
Two Clown’s totally out of touch with the working people in this Country.
Delighted that Alan has announced his leadership bid. Alan will bring his unique style of honest talking and directness to the role. I welcome a new chapter for the Labour Party.
@Gerry Ashe: Quality sarcasm – bravo
@Gerry Ashe: Let’s hope its the last chapter though.
If Labour had rebuilt years back and won more seats in the recent GE it may have offered better options for gov formation so it’s important that they do rebuild. However they need to rebuild as a left party with working class roots and so far they have failed to do that. To be fair it’s a difficult task but it could be achieved by getting into government and showing that they can be trusted to defend workers rights, assuming they will of course.
Alan Kelly v Aodhán Ó Ríordáin though, FFS, is that all you have Labour? – I woudn’t have either of them even in the party. Send Kelly to FG and O’Riordain needs a brain transplant before he should be let out again.
@Eddie O’Neill: while they were busy hammering the working class in conjunction with their buddies in Fine Gael, Sinn Fein stole their clothes and they’ll never get them back.
@Gerry Ryan deG: they need to get them back, for all our sakes.
The armchair journalists and critics seem to have loads of time on their hands criticising and criticising and oh yea criticising .
@Margaret Mcgarry:
To be fair Margaret, he attracts a lot of it and its mostly warranted. Its part and parcel of public life, being scrutinised in the media.
@Lotus: and we have our doubts as to is actually running sf. But the same applies here. As has been pointed out, kellys brother and his cronies, and their business are the problem here
going by the journals pictures the 2 boys could pass as twins
Mr. Politically correct Virtue signaler in chief, Aodhan the Amadan , a complete dose .
No wonder Labour are and will b toast
If he can get Labour back to the basics,he can re build his party, Best of Luck
@Eddie Walsh: your brave saying that . Wait for the backlash from the demented
What planet is Kelly on ?
We were at his mercy when he was minister in the FG government.
He took Labour from 33 TD,s to 7
What more does he need to do to destroy Labour?
Alan Kelly “The Minister for Water” Even after Labours disastrous G/E in 2016 He was still on the airwaves banging on about how Water needed to be paid for by the users…. i.e. Us, the Taxpayers!!!! Labour deserve what they get if they elect him.
Labour tds and members have a think about joining the progressive Democrats. That’s where the future lies.
Will he get a seconder this time?
AK has delivered jobs in Tipp, has the robustness and anger needed for the Labour leader job. Didn’t get my vote, mind!
@john mounsey: It’s a pity Kelly thinks Tipperary ends at the Horse and Jockey. Labour the party who brought armed Gardai on to the streets of Clonmel(where the party was founded) because schoolchildren were protesting against education cuts,and then refused to face the people of the same town before the 2016 election. He needs a hole drilled in his head to let the bullsh!t out.
@David Kennedy: Nah! I think he’s doing ok without it.
Jesus, can someone tell the Shinnerbots that the election is over? The fact they’re getting so wound up about Kelly before he’s even given the job suggests he must be doing something right.
sweet Christ
Like two bald men, fighting for the comb
Aodhan is a good man. Not to sound too parish-pump-politicky, but he’s done great work in the community. He’s also a really, really nice guy. Hope he gets it.
The labour Party has let down the Irish Working Class since 1922 by hopping into bed with FF & FG rather than, Like the UK & Australia, maintain strong Left Wing policies to protect & benefit the working class.
To an outsider it seems absurd that Labour is not the first party to offer support to a SF led Government.
This is top national news and needs even more coverage – comments, analysis, projections, controversy. After there are five TDs in this party.
Cake or death ??? I’ll take the death please –cake I meant the cake.
Face like a slapped arse
Will all 7 members of labor get a vote?? I
Akin to looking for the job of Captain of Titanic, the only way is down.
They can hold their first meeting around my rather impressive 6-seater dining table. The two end chairs have arms too. I’ll supply the glasses of water Free Of Charge.
The thing is Mr. Kelly, this country tends not to forget. Eamonn Gilmore promised to change governance when elected into power, but he knew and the rest of your party, including yourself, knew that was going to be an impossible task. All the people of Ireland can see is politions looking to line their own pockets with massive wages and even bigger pensions. Look at what Enda Kenny is entitled too… it’s a total and utter disgrace what you and the rest of your political friends are paid, and yet our health system is like third world. People living on the streets. You and your Labour party have a long hard road in front you and deservedly so!!
So many negative comments about Kelly here – all justified, but he is in fact the lesser of the two evils. Amadan O’ Riordan is even worse than Kelly.
Alan kelly
It’s like two idiots vying to be Captain of The Titanic as it goes down.
Will all 7 members of labor get a vote??
have your say