First garda members remembered
Two local men from the Ballycommon area who joined Ireland’s new police force after the country’s independence were remembered in a ceremony in Ballycommon on Thursday last.
A group of relatives of the two late gardaí gathered at Monsea graveyard to pay tribute to their relatives who were among the first group to join the newly formed An Garda Síochána in 1922.
The current Superintendent of the force in Nenagh Ollie Baker came along to join with the relatives to pay tribute and honour William and Patrick Devaney.
Superintendent Baker marked the occasion by presenting two centenary commemorative medals and certificates to the Devaney and Flannery families in remembrance of their grand uncles William and Patrick.
It was a poignant occasion as the presentations took place at William Devaney’s final resting place in the graveyard.
Fond memories were shared of the two former members, and it was a great experience for Superintendent Baker to hear the personal memories of the relatives of the two men.
Patrick Devaney died in Melbourne in Australia in June 1956, aged 67.
Among relatives who gathered at the graveside in Monsea last Thursday were retired Nenagh teachers Donal Whelan from Dromineer and Liam Flannery from Ballycommon.
Others included Donal, Joe and Eamonn Devaney and Caitriona McCullough who all still live in the Ballycommon area.
An Garda Síochana said it planned to present commemorative medals marking the centenary of the force in 2022 to all serving and retired garda, as well as civilian staff and those working in the Garda reserve.
When the first batch of medals were presented almost two years ago the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that for any organisation to be 100-years old was “a great achievement”.
“What we want to do is celebrate the achievement of members and personnel of An Garda Síochána, those who are currently serving, both Garda members and Garda staff, but also retired members as well,” he said.
The awards to those involved with the force, past and present, were “in recognition of their service and their commitment to the people of Ireland”, said the commissioner.