On 9th February 1922, the first police service of the new Irish Free State was officially formed. A year later, The Civic Guard was renamed An Garda Síochána (Guardians of the Peace). The early days of the force were difficult, with a principal challenge, building trust amongst the Irish population in the midst of a Civil War, particularly as an unarmed force. Below, you will hear from one of the earliest members of that force, Patrick Campbell. Patrick was recorded in 1977 and his recording, deposited with the Capturing Our History Project in 2021.
