Gardaí to mark Centenary

Past and current members of An Garda Síochána attached to the Cavan-Monaghan Divisional area will mark the Centenary of the founding of the force at an event to take place in Carrickmacross tomorrow (Sunday), September 11.

The Centenary Parade will commence at 11am from the Courthouse in the south Monaghan town, and will go up Main Street before arriving at Carrickmacross Civic Offices.

It will feature the Garda Band, the Regional Ceremonial Unit, Garda members and staff and retired members of the force.

There is also an academic event with a number of guest speakers. Among them are Professor Ferghal McGarry, Professor of Modern Irish History at Queen’s University in Belfast; Sergeant John Reynolds, a historian and curator of the Garda College Museum and Visitor Centre; and Rita Delaney, a Central Committee member of An Garda Síochána Pensioners’ Association (GSRMA).

Between 12 noon and 4pm, gardaí will host a Family Friendly Community Engagement event, with a sensory hour between 12 noon and 1pm, where there will be an opportunity for the public meet local gardaí and specialist units.

Already a number of commemorative events have taken place in the region.

In Cavan, a memorial was erected in honour of Inspector Samuel Donegan, killed 50 years ago.

A plaque was erected outside Cavan Garda Station, and a campaign is gaining momentum for Insp Donegan, who died in a booby-trap explosion on the border near Leggykelly, to be posthumously acknowledged for his bravery.

Similarly in Belturbet, a remembrance ceremony took place to honour the late Sergeant Patrick Morrissey on the anniversary of his murder in 1985.