Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) in Knock 

The Irish Constabulary was formed in 1836. Lewis writing in 1837 in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland informs us that the Constabulary police force had a station in the village of Knock. Location of this early site may be checked in the 1840 Ordnance Survey map. The Knock Station was located to the right of the present day home of Mr & Mrs. Michael & Maura Kennedy, Knock village.  An armed police force was formed as the Irish Constabulary by Thomas Drummond in 1836. The force was granted the title 'Royal' for its role in the suppression of the rising by the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1867.

Members of the force, who were mainly Catholic, were recruited from among the tenant-farmer class and were strategically centred in the most likely trouble spots.

In the 1893 Postal Directory , we receive information that Knock was in the Constabulary district of Kilrush, and in charge was J ohn Flanagan. At the turn of the century , according to the 1901 Census of Ireland the Sergeant at Knock was Sergeant Patrick Cannon.  Following the Easter Rising of 1916, members of the force were regarded with hostility by nationalists and members of the Irish Volunteers. The R.I.C. was the primary target of the Irish Republican army at the start of the War of Independence. In April 1920 the evacuated Knock station and adjoining courthouse and dispensary were "burned to the ground by a large party of armed and disguised men." The building was the private property ofF.W.G. Hickman of Kilmore House.  The Royal Irish Constabulary strength of County Clare on 1/1/1922 was 475 ; Kilrush was then operated as District Headquarters with one Sergeant and five Constables for Knock. The Royal Irish Constabulary disbanded in 1922.

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