The garda, his lilting air and a classic 50s hit movie
IT was the air that captured the imaginations of millions of movie goers around the world when it accompanied John Wayne’s swagger in The Quiet Man.
But it is not widely known that The Isle Of Innisfree was composed during a bus journey from Co. Meath to Pearse Street Garda Station where its author, Garda Richard Farrelly, was stationed.
The late Mr Farrelly – whose name does not appear in the film’s credits – is remembered in a book detailing the history of Ireland’s busiest Garda station, Pearse Street 100.
Superintendent Joe Gannon told the Irish Mail on Sunday this week: ‘That is just a small, but important, piece of history of this station.’
The superintendent, who came up with the idea for the book, said: ‘There is so much history attached to the station, from the time of the War of Independence to the secret visits of Michael Collins, and we were anxious these historical events be properly recorded.
‘We felt a book would be a fitting tribute to 100 years of policing at Pearse Street.’
Garda Stephen Moore – a young poetry writer based at the station – researched and edited the book. ‘We set a tight deadline, but we did it and the demand for the book has been something else,’ said Supt Gannon. ‘It is flying out of the station and Eason has even asked for copies.
‘I pointed Stephen in the direction of retired members who would have served at the station in the middle of the 20th century and we’d have conversations about our progress.’
Proceeds from the commemorative book which was funded by local gardaí will go to Dublin’s homeless charity Trust.
The station, the headquarters of the largest Garda division in the country, covers a diverse area – from Government Buildings to the Pearse Street flats.
The Garda station, with its distinctive stone-clad facade, opened its doors in 1915 as a Dublin Metropolitan Police station located on what was then known as Great Brunswick Street. The street was renamed in 1924 to commemorate Pádraig Pearse, who was born in No.27 in 1889. The station became known as ‘College Station’ thanks to its proximity to Trinity College, and it was renamed Pearse Street station to mark the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising.
Pearse Street 100 is available from Pearse Street Station, Eason and Books Upstairs on D’Olier Street at a cost of €20.