The Irish standard., 1898-07-02
ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY
Who Fall in With the People as
Members of the Public.
THEIR IMAGINARY SPEECHES
Very Specially Reported in the
Freeman's Journal.

The following report of an imaginary
meeting of the police and people held at
Kilbogland on June Z, appears in the
Dublin Freeman's Journal of June 1S:
A large and enthusiastic meeting of the
people of this patriotic parish and all the
surrounding districts was held here to-
day for the purpose Of formally inaugur-
ating a '98 club, and making prepara-
tions for the great demonstration which
will be held in the village on Thursday
next. Mr.. John Gallagher, P. L. G., pre-
sided, and amongst those present were
Head Constable Michael Muldoon, Ser
Ieants Denis Donoghue, Francis Far
rell; Cohstables Joseph Joyce, Thomas
Tiernan, Owen O'Mallaghlan, and Henry
Hooligan; Messrs. M. Brannigan, L. c.;
T. Twohig, T. c.; L. Lynch, J. P; S.
Finnegan, P. L. G; E. Mulvaney (presi-
dent l. N. F); ]. O'Neill (hon sec, do;
and many other representative national
lists, including delegates from the follow
ing parishes: Aghadoe, Ballymacar-
rett, Corkaguiny, Desertserges, Ennis
kerry, Fermoy, Grangergorman, Har-
old's Cross, Inniscarra, Kilcolman, Ligo-
neil, M'Gillicuddy's Reek, Newtownards;;
Ormeau road, Pottinger, Queenstown,
Raphoe, Swords, Terenure, Upton, VIC
arstown, Waterford, Youghal, etc.
The chairman having explained the
objects of the meeting in an eloquent
speech, called upon Head Constable Mul.
doom, who was received with prolonged
cheering and waving of hats and hand
kerchiefs.
The Head constable said: Fellow coun-
trymen and boys of Kilbogland and the
adjacent townlands-I am gratified be-
yond measure at being with you mere
today, and proud of the undeseryed re-
ception you have given me (cries Of
You deserve it'). You all know that
we are here today to celebrate the i'm
mortal memories of the men who died
for Ireland 100 years ago cloud ap-
plause). When the time comes that the
men Of Ireland will fear to speak of '9S
or relax for a moment their efforts to
achieve the ends for which Lord Edward
died and Wolfe Tone sunk serene, then
may the harp of our country want
strings, and pensions be denied to Ire
lands patriotic policemen (great cheer
fng). With my comrades 1 am here
today to join with you heart and soul in
this glorious commemoration (ap:
plause). We come as members of the
general public to exercise our legal
rights as citizens, and to give expression
to our honest feelings as Irishmen who,
no matter what our faults may be'-and
who is without them?-(hear, hear),
have hearts that throb for Ireland as
truly as the men who charged at Oulart
with Father Murphy, or followed Henry
Joy McCracken through storm of Brit
ish bullets through the streets of Antrim
town (prolonged applause). Gentlemen,
we assert 1reland's right to resist Eng
lish domination by force of arms 1t
is not for me to say on what side I may
be found (cries of I'VE know it'D.
The Head Constable-No, my friends,
you are entitled to assume nothing
(murmurs), but as member of the gen.
eral public I stand here, proudly and de-
family, to say that my uniform or my
baton does not make me less an Irish
man (cheers), and to assure you of my
continued devotion to the principles of
the heroes of '9S.
Let traitors boast
They'll crush our free opinions"
Boys, they never will cloud cheers). We
may be peelers, but we are members of
the General Public and as one of the lat
ter l beg to propose THAT demonstra-
ton in honor of the men who died for
Ireland in '98 be held in our town on
Thursday, June 9th (prolonged ap-
plause).
Sergeant Denis Donoghue, who was
enthusiastically cheered said he was de-
lighted to second the resolution. With
memories, they might be surprised to
see him there emo, no'); but he wished
them to know that his Irish heart was
true to the good old emerald banner
though foreign administrators had de-
creed that the green of his tunic should
be mingled with dark (cheers). AS a
member of the General Public he wished
to indorse all that his worthy superior
the head constable, had said, and he
violated no confidence when he told
them that the men of his barracks had
decided to place wreath of shamrocks
around the horseshoe over their door on