Royal Irish Constabulary

[heat67]

I have several ancestors who I believe were in the Royal Irish Constabulary. I don't have service numbers for them to search for them at Kew. I know there is a book which lists all these numbers. Does anyone know where I can get access to it? TIA

[Sinann]

While your waiting for an answer to that question, depending on the time period you need IGP has lists for each county from 1840 to 1858.
Each man is listed under his native county http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/#gsc.tab=0

[Sinann]

The name of the book etc. is here
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=126591.0
Sadly Christopher passed away in 2009.

[TinaRoyal]

You can borrow the book from your Local Library through the Inter Library Loans Service, or you can purchase a second-hand copy from someone like Amazon.

[Mean_genie]

If you are going to Kew to look at the RIC records you don't need to get hold of the Herlihy book in advance, you can look at TNA's copy when you get there.

[eadaoin]

Before you go, write up a page for each with all you know about their life. It'll make your task easier

eg I knew that one of mine had some children in Limerick, and some in Wexford, so I was looking for -

Joe Soap
prob joined aged 18ish and born ~ 1850 - so joined 1865 - 1871 (this helps to find his number)
stationed in Limerick  1877, 1880 (known from childrens' births)
stationed in Wexford 1883,1884
etc

[eileenwilson]

The records are also available on Ancestry.

[Mean_genie]

Unfortunately, the records on Ancestry are no help at all if you want to look at the microfilms at Kew. They don't give the service numbers, or the HO 184 film reference, only an FHL film number and page, so you still need to get the service number from the index book, which you can then use to work out the film reference you need.

[Sinann]

That book has just come out in paperback btw
http://www.irishgenealogynews.com/2016/08/royal-irish-constabulary-officers-1816.html