A conference marking 200 years of Irish policing is being held this weekend in Co Tipperary where Sir Robert Peel carried out his first experiments in professional policing. "Constables, Peelers and Civic Guards", will be addressed by prominent figures including the former RUC Chief Constable, Sir John Hermon.
It marks the bicentenary of Peel's experimental Peace Preservation Force, commonly known as Peelers, who set up their first headquarters in Cashel, Co Tipperary in 1814. Ireland became the centre for training police for the British colonies. A former Irish peeler, Chartres Brew, went on to become the first Police Commissioner of Canada. A plaque to commemorate him is to be unveiled by the Canadian ambassador to Ireland, Mr Michael Philis, on Saturday in Cahir.
The conference will be held in Cahir Castle. Tomorrow's opening lecture will be by Dr Brian Griffin, of the Bath College of Higher Education on: "The RIC 1836-1914 - pariahs or good neighbours".
The Tipperary historian, Dr Des Marnana, will give the first lecture on Saturday on "Sir Robert and his Peelers - Tipperary roots 1760-1822". The Garda historian and author, Liam McNiffe, gives the second address on "Wholesale Arming, Disarming and Selective Rearming of the Garda Siochana 19221952".
Sir John Hermon's lecture will be: "Holding The Line - the problems of policing Northern Ireland 1922-1997". Sunday's lectures will be "The RIC - archives, ancestry and anecdotes" by Garda Jim Herlihy, Garda archivist; and "Reminiscences of an Irish Global Policeman" by Steve Watson.
Anyone wishing to attend the conference can do so by contacting Sgt Peter Butler at Cahir Garda station, tel (052) 41222 or by fax (052) 42388.