Search Results for 'Henry Goulburn'

One does not have to dig very deep into the archives to find evidence of wholescale corruption, pervasive nepotism, and general theft of public monies by public representatives and officials in nineteenth-century Mayo.

In the 18th century, attempts at maintaining law and order in Galway were poor. Occasional groups of civilian vigilantes were set up, but they were not very successful. Then, 200 years ago, in 1822, the Chief Secretary Henry Goulburn set up the Irish Constabulary. In 1824, Edward Blake from Mary Street became the first Catholic in Ireland to become a constable. In 1825, a decision was made to bring police to Galway. Some time later a barracks was set up in Abbeygate Street, then one in Eyre Square (where Giblin’s Hotel was situated later), and one in Dominick Street where An Tobar Nua is today. The force gradually became very organized, was successful in dealing with crime, and so Queen Victoria granted it the term ‘Royal’.