Garda memorial unveiling to take place

Inspector Samuel Donegan, a native of Ballintampen near Longford, died on June 8, 1972.

On Bank Holiday Monday, June 6, at 3pm, a memorial to mark the 50th anniversary of the killing of Inspector Samuel Donegan will take place at Cavan Garda Station.

The event is being organised by the Garda Síochána Retired Members Association (GSRMA) Cavan branch, and will be attended by surviving members of Insp Donegan’s family.

The memorial has also been organised with support from An Garda Síochána nationally, St Paul’s and St Raphael’s Garda Credit Unions and Cavan County Council.

It will begin with a full colour parade led by the Garda Band along Farnham Street to the steps of Cavan Courthouse where a short Ecumenical service will take place.

This will be followed by the unveiling of the Memorial to Insp Donegan at the front of Cavan Garda Station.

Retired Sergeant Ernan Gilleran is among those responsible for the initiative. He retired from the force after 31 years having served in Emyvale, Ballyconnell, Kingscourt and Ballyjamesduff. The Longford native has assisted in helping organise the memorial to Inspt Donegan through the GSRMA.

“He was 61 years at the time he died, had six children, two boys and four girls. He died on the Cavan-Fermanagh border, they were out on a search of the area, both army and guards, a regular enough thing at the time, when the bomb went off, killing Sam,” recalls Ernan.

This year, 2022, also marks the centenary since a secret meeting took place on February 9, 1922, in the Gresham Hotel, chaired by Michael Collins, the chairman of the Provisional Government of Ireland to establish a new police force for the new republic.

The move commenced the phasing out of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), which ended its policing role in August of that year.

“It is an important year in the history of An Garda Síochána, and the history of the state. Our local retired members felt it would be important, as part of those commemorations, to memorialise Sam given that it is 50 years since his killing,” explains Ernan. “There is a small plaque in his honour erected inside the station already, but we felt it important to have something out front, which members of the public could recognise and pay tribute too as well.”