A New R.I.C. Barracks in Falcarragh
Beairic Úr an R.I.C. Ar an Fhál Carrach
After the transfer of deeds a series of drawings were prepared by the Architect’s Department of the Office of Public Works. The plans included accommodation for three married couples constables, a head constable’s quarter and an upstairs dormitory to accommodate seven constables.
Building commenced in August 1891 with Robert Colhoun as building contractor. The building was completed within eighteen months. Patrick Barrett was the first R.I.C. constable to take up residence and post as Head Constable.
Lord Dudley’s visit to Falcarragh in 1904
In June 1904 Lord Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, toured Donegal. He was on a fact finding mission gathering information for his wife which involved the inspection of the congested District board areas. Countess Dudley had established a charity which aimed to supply nurses to the poorer areas along the western seaboard.On the 1st of July, his convoy arrived in Falcarragh where they were welcomed by Sir John Olphert and the R.I.C. Officers. The sequence of events is recorded in the following extract from the Londonderry Sentinel on Tuesday, the 5th of July.
“On Sunday at 1.30 p.m. his Excellency and the party accompanying him motored through the historic village of Falcarragh after a speedy run from the Gweedore Hotel. They proceeded to Ballyconnell House, the residence of Sir John Olphert, C.V.O., where luncheon was in readiness. The R.I.C. barracks and coastguard station were gaily decorated with flags bearing appropriate mottos and bright bunting.
Ballyconnell House and the approaches thereto were elaborately decorated with flags and emblems for a hearty welcome. Along the road from Gweedore there were many manifestations of delight accompanied with hearty cheers as His Excellency passed through.
His Excellency and party left Ballyconnell House at 4.30 p.m. for Rospenna Hotel. Before leaving His Excellency expressed his delight with the grandeur of the scenery of North West Donegal, and the great pleasure it gave him to visit the various districts which he had passed and of the warm cordiality of the welcome he had received on all sides during the tour. His Excellency, while deeply interested in the various representations made to him at different points and in the lovely scenery, is more particularly concerned at present with the administration of the Countess of Dudley’s fund for supplying nurses for the poor of the very congested districts. Already ten have been allocated and two more are to be appointed.”
Tá cuntas i gClárlann na nGníomhas a chuireann in iúl dúinn gur bhronn Wybrants Olphert suíomh do bheairic péas ar Sir Andrew Reed, Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath, Glacadóir Ginearálta an R.I.C. in Éirinn. Tharla an bronnadh seo ar an 29ú lá de Dheireadh Fómhair, 1891.
Nuair amháin na gníomhas aistrithe, dhearaigh an Rannóg Ailtireachta in Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí sraith líníochtaí pleanála. Bhí pleananna ann do chóiríocht lóistín do thrí lándin phósta, cóiríocht don Ard-Chonstábla agus suanlios thuas staighre ina mbeadh áit do sheachtar constábla singil.
Cuireadh tús leis an obair thógála i mí Lúnasa 1891 agus ba é Roibeard Ó Cathlúain an conraitheoir. Laistigh de ocht mhí dhéag, bhí an fhoirgneamh réidh. Ba é Pádraig Bairéid an phéas de chuid an R.I.C. a chónaí sa bheairic úr mar Ard-Chonstábla.
Ar an chéad lá de mhí Iúil, shroich sé féin agus a lucht tionlacain baile an Fháil Charraigh, áit ar chuir an Ridire John Olphert agus oifigigí an R.I.C. fáilte rompu. Seo a leanas tuairisc faoina chairt a foilsíodh san Londonderry Sentinel ar an 5ú Iúil:
“Tráthnóna Dé Domhnaigh, I dtrátha 1.30 i.n., bhain a Shoilse agus a lucht tionlacain baile stairiúil an Fhál Carraigh aonach I ndiaidh daofa tiomáint go breá gasta aniar as Óstán Ghaoth Dobhair. Ansin, chuaigh siad ar aghaidh go Teach Bhaile Chonaill, teach cónaithe an Ridire John Olphert, áit a raibh lón ag fanacht leo. Bhí I beairic an R.I.C. agus staisiún an Gharda Cósta maisithe go hálainn leis na bratanna oiriúnacha agus buintíní gleoite.
Mar an gcéanna, bhi na bealaí isteach go Teach Bhaile Chonaill maisithe le bratanna agus suaitheantaisí le fearadh na fáilte a chas roimhe. Ar an bhealach aniar as Gaoth Dobhair, bhi morín daoine amuigh ag cur a lúcháir in iúl dá Shoilse le gárthaí molta.
D’fhag a Scoilse agus a lucht tionlacain Teach Bhail Chonaill ar 4.20 i.n. ar a mbealach go hÓstán Ros na mBeannach. Sular imigh sé, dúirt a Shoilse go raibh sé iontach togtha le taobh tíre galánta Iardheiscirt Dhún na nGall agus gur bhain sé sult agus pléisiúr as a chuairt thart ar na ceantracha éagsúla agus as an fáilte a chuir muintir na háite go léir roimhe. Ach, cé go raibh suim mhór aige sa timpeallacht agus sna cúrsaí ar leith a cuireadh faoina bhráid le linn an turais, bhí a intinn dírithe san am i láthair ar riarachán a dhéanamh ar chistiúchán an Bhantiarna Dudley, sé sin banaltraí a chur ar fáil do nó bochta sna ceantracha a ba mbó a bhí faoi mhíbhuntáiste. Chuarta féin bhí deichniur banaltra curtha go dtí áiteacha ar leith agus bhí bean eile le ceapadh.
Nuair amháin na gníomhas aistrithe, dhearaigh an Rannóg Ailtireachta in Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí sraith líníochtaí pleanála. Bhí pleananna ann do chóiríocht lóistín do thrí lándin phósta, cóiríocht don Ard-Chonstábla agus suanlios thuas staighre ina mbeadh áit do sheachtar constábla singil.
Cuireadh tús leis an obair thógála i mí Lúnasa 1891 agus ba é Roibeard Ó Cathlúain an conraitheoir. Laistigh de ocht mhí dhéag, bhí an fhoirgneamh réidh. Ba é Pádraig Bairéid an phéas de chuid an R.I.C. a chónaí sa bheairic úr mar Ard-Chonstábla.
Cuairt an Tiarna Dudley ar an Fhál Carrach sa bhliain 1904
I mí Mheitheamh, 1904, thug an Tiarna Dudley, Fear Ionaid na Sasanach in Éirinn, turas thart an Dhún na nGall. Bhí sé ag cruinniú eolais fá cheantracha a bhí ainmnithe ar Bhord na gCeantar Cúig da bhean chéile. Bhí cumann carthanais curtha ar bun ag an Bhantiarna Dudley, a raibh sé mar aidhm aici banaltraí a chur ar fáil do ceantracha a ba bhoichte ar chósta an Iarthair.Ar an chéad lá de mhí Iúil, shroich sé féin agus a lucht tionlacain baile an Fháil Charraigh, áit ar chuir an Ridire John Olphert agus oifigigí an R.I.C. fáilte rompu. Seo a leanas tuairisc faoina chairt a foilsíodh san Londonderry Sentinel ar an 5ú Iúil:
“Tráthnóna Dé Domhnaigh, I dtrátha 1.30 i.n., bhain a Shoilse agus a lucht tionlacain baile stairiúil an Fhál Carraigh aonach I ndiaidh daofa tiomáint go breá gasta aniar as Óstán Ghaoth Dobhair. Ansin, chuaigh siad ar aghaidh go Teach Bhaile Chonaill, teach cónaithe an Ridire John Olphert, áit a raibh lón ag fanacht leo. Bhí I beairic an R.I.C. agus staisiún an Gharda Cósta maisithe go hálainn leis na bratanna oiriúnacha agus buintíní gleoite.
Mar an gcéanna, bhi na bealaí isteach go Teach Bhaile Chonaill maisithe le bratanna agus suaitheantaisí le fearadh na fáilte a chas roimhe. Ar an bhealach aniar as Gaoth Dobhair, bhi morín daoine amuigh ag cur a lúcháir in iúl dá Shoilse le gárthaí molta.
D’fhag a Scoilse agus a lucht tionlacain Teach Bhail Chonaill ar 4.20 i.n. ar a mbealach go hÓstán Ros na mBeannach. Sular imigh sé, dúirt a Shoilse go raibh sé iontach togtha le taobh tíre galánta Iardheiscirt Dhún na nGall agus gur bhain sé sult agus pléisiúr as a chuairt thart ar na ceantracha éagsúla agus as an fáilte a chuir muintir na háite go léir roimhe. Ach, cé go raibh suim mhór aige sa timpeallacht agus sna cúrsaí ar leith a cuireadh faoina bhráid le linn an turais, bhí a intinn dírithe san am i láthair ar riarachán a dhéanamh ar chistiúchán an Bhantiarna Dudley, sé sin banaltraí a chur ar fáil do nó bochta sna ceantracha a ba mbó a bhí faoi mhíbhuntáiste. Chuarta féin bhí deichniur banaltra curtha go dtí áiteacha ar leith agus bhí bean eile le ceapadh.
R.I.C. Sergeants Stationed at the Falcarragh barracks and throughout Cloughaneely, from 1846 - 1921
| 1846 - 1848 | Wm. Campbell |
| 1854 - 1855 | Robert Anderson |
| 1855 - ? | Hugh Feeney |
| 1876 - 1878 | Wm. Chadwick |
| 1876-1884 Temporary station at Erraroey - Jas, Royane | |
| 1878 - 1879 | J. McManus |
| 1879 - 1884 | Park. Daly |
| 1884 - 1887 | Thomas Carragher |
| 1888 - 1889 | Robert Kenny |
| Protection Posts at Ballyconnell Hse. Caskel Station at Meenacladdy Sgt James Poen | |
| Sgt Wm. Pierce took over in July | |
| 1889-1890 | R. Bigley, Head Constable. |
| The name Falcarragh replaces [-] in R.I.C. Treasury Protection Posts at: | |
| |
| Station at Meenaclady - Sgt Wm. Pierce | |
| Station at Glasserchoo - Sgt Bernard Sweeney | |
| 1891 - 1896 | R. Barnet, Head Constable |
| 1891 - Protection Posts at Ballyconnell Hse. J Duffy | |
| Ballyness - J Garnon / B. Higgins | |
| Glasserhoo - Hut | |
| Ardsmore | |
| Cashel Hill | |
| Meenacladdy Sgt Wm Pierce | |
| Ardsbeg T. Hunter | |
1892 Protection Post at
| |
| 1893-1896 Protection Posts at Ardsmore | |
| Glasserchoo - H. Callaghan Acting Serg. | |
| 1896 - 1897 | J.A. Carbery, Head Constable |
| Protection Posts at Glasserchoo - H. McGettigan Acting Sgt | |
| Ardsmore discontinued (1899-1896) | |
| 1897 - 1912 | T. McNicholas, Sergt |
| Protection Posts at Glasserchoo | |
| 1897 - Thomas Murphy Acting Sgt | |
| 1901 - 1903 J. Feeney | |
| 1903 - George McCandey | |
| 1904 - S.H. McCullagh (Appointed, July) | |
| 1905 - 1906 Edward Curran (Appointed, July) | |
| 1907 - John Hume Acting Sgt | |
| 1908 - 1910 J. T Purcell | |
| 1912 - 1919 Wm. Farrel Acting Sergeant | |
| Protection Posts in force 1911 - 1921: there was a station at Ardsbeg | |
| 1911 - 1914 J.T. Purcell | |
| 1915 - 1916 J. Leddy | |
| 1916 - 1918 Kealey | |
| 1918 - 1919 Joseph Mulvey | |
| 1919 - 1921 J. Mooney | |
| 1919 - 1921 | Michael McKenna |
Location
An tSean Bheairic
An tSráid Mhór
An Fál Carrach
Co. Dhún na nGall
F92 YE2C


