Happy Ending" (of sorts).

With the Regular British Army, the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries already departed, the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were the last branch of the British administration in Ireland to vacate their barracks and disband.

This account has a "happy ending".

Nationalist, March 1922.

POLICE BARRACKS EVACUATED.

On Saturday the Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks at Baltinglass was evacuated and the police took their departure accompanied by an armed escort. Similar scenes were witnessed in Tullow and Bagenalstown on Monday, the men being conveyed to Carlow where the evacuation of the Carlow R.I.C. Barracks took place on Wednesday. The police left Carlow accompanied by a military escort, equipped with rifles, machine guns and an armoured car. There were several lorries and a small crowd witnessed the departure of the men. The various barracks were subsequently taken over by the Irish Republican Army and the Irish Republican Police.

About 12.30 on Wednesday a motor car belonging to the District Inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary was left on the street opposite the Royal Hotel in Dublin Street, disappeared while the Inspector and his driver were inside the hotel.

Inquiries failed to discover the whereabouts of the car . The Republican Police are investigating the matter!

Transcribed by M. Purcell c2010.

Old newspapers in the PPP.