Memoirs – Thomas Fennell
Elizabeth Malcolm, in The Irish Policeman, notes that:
…former RIC men exhibited a marked tendency to write, and sometimes publish memoirs. Some of these accounts, especially those written by Protestant officers, lauded the RIC and offered stout defences against the force’s critics. But accounts written by Catholic constables tended to be far more ambivalent: still mainly laudatory, yet at the same time defensive, uneasy and full of self justification (Malcolm, 2006, p. 29).
This assessment seems to be particularly true in the case of Thomas Fennell. His account of his career, The Royal Irish Constabulary – A History and Personal Memoir (2003), was edited and published by his granddaughter more than 50 years after his death. Fennell was a catholic from Derry and rose to the rank of head constable. He passed the written examination for promotion to district inspector but he did not proceed to that rank (for some unknown reason – possibly because of his religion). He spent 8 years serving in Mayo (starting in 1875) and his narrative is nationalistic in tone. He was an admirer of Michael Davitt and was disappointed with the unfortunate position that the men of the RIC had to take during the Land War. In general, Fennell felt that “At all times, even during the Land War, up until 1920 there was a good feeling between the rank-and-file and the general public and this tended to balance other disagreeable features of the service” (Fennell, 2003, p. 19). In his memoir, he rejects the charge that the police engaged in acts of espionage and argues that the majority of intelligence that the police supplied to the state was of the “common knowledge” variety. In other words, “…the R.I.C. had eyes and ears as well as everybody else” (Fennell, 2003, p. 159).
Elizabeth Malcolm, in The Irish Policeman, notes that:
…former RIC men exhibited a marked tendency to write, and sometimes publish memoirs. Some of these accounts, especially those written by Protestant officers, lauded the RIC and offered stout defences against the force’s critics. But accounts written by Catholic constables tended to be far more ambivalent: still mainly laudatory, yet at the same time defensive, uneasy and full of self justification (Malcolm, 2006, p. 29).
This assessment seems to be particularly true in the case of Thomas Fennell. His account of his career, The Royal Irish Constabulary – A History and Personal Memoir (2003), was edited and published by his granddaughter more than 50 years after his death. Fennell was a catholic from Derry and rose to the rank of head constable. He passed the written examination for promotion to district inspector but he did not proceed to that rank (for some unknown reason – possibly because of his religion). He spent 8 years serving in Mayo (starting in 1875) and his narrative is nationalistic in tone. He was an admirer of Michael Davitt and was disappointed with the unfortunate position that the men of the RIC had to take during the Land War. In general, Fennell felt that “At all times, even during the Land War, up until 1920 there was a good feeling between the rank-and-file and the general public and this tended to balance other disagreeable features of the service” (Fennell, 2003, p. 19). In his memoir, he rejects the charge that the police engaged in acts of espionage and argues that the majority of intelligence that the police supplied to the state was of the “common knowledge” variety. In other words, “…the R.I.C. had eyes and ears as well as everybody else” (Fennell, 2003, p. 159).
Memoirs - George McKee
A very relevant source for this study was the “Private Notes of George McKee, Royal Irish Constabulary, Castlebar, 1880-1915”. This 25-page memoir was reproduced in the Journal of the Westport Historical Society (1998). It details McKee’s professional and private life in the towns he served in around Co. Mayo. McKee’s grandfather, father and six brothers all served in the force. He was born in Drummin RIC barracks near Castlebar and he joined the force when he was 18. He was stationed in several stations around the county and was transferred to County Leitrim in 1896. McKee was a devout christian but not a catholic. In a poignant account of his personal life, he shares some of the tragedies that befell him. Three of his children died in infancy. Another child was born with a congenital deformity and required prolonged medical attention. His wife, Mary Ann Morrisson, was his aunt’s daughter – presumably therefore, his first cousin. Like Fennell, McKee rose to the rank of head constable (McKee, 1998).
A very relevant source for this study was the “Private Notes of George McKee, Royal Irish Constabulary, Castlebar, 1880-1915”. This 25-page memoir was reproduced in the Journal of the Westport Historical Society (1998). It details McKee’s professional and private life in the towns he served in around Co. Mayo. McKee’s grandfather, father and six brothers all served in the force. He was born in Drummin RIC barracks near Castlebar and he joined the force when he was 18. He was stationed in several stations around the county and was transferred to County Leitrim in 1896. McKee was a devout christian but not a catholic. In a poignant account of his personal life, he shares some of the tragedies that befell him. Three of his children died in infancy. Another child was born with a congenital deformity and required prolonged medical attention. His wife, Mary Ann Morrisson, was his aunt’s daughter – presumably therefore, his first cousin. Like Fennell, McKee rose to the rank of head constable (McKee, 1998).