The Boyce Family

1966 Class - Garda College Templemore. Garda Joe Boyce, 5th from the left back row
Garda Joe Boyce, Templemore Garda Traing Centre, September 1966
Lunch time on Poitin Search 1994 From left: Gardaí Michael Heanue, Ciaran Ruane, Joe Boyce, Colm Kavanagh, Ray Lyons & Tony Mitchell R.I.P.
Sgt Joe Boyce & Det. Pat Ferriter in Lettermore 1997
Retired Gardai enjoying an evening at Garda function in Clifden Sgt.Joe Boyce, Garda P.J Paten & Garda Seamus Lydon
Sgt Joe Boyce in Oughterard Garda Station
Garda Joe Boyce & Sean Carney Lettermore 1967
25th Class Reunion in Portlaoise Sgt. Joe Boyce (6th from the left middle row)
Sgt Joe Boyce, Garda Vincent Flanagan, Garda Cathal O'Malley and Garda Seamus Lydon
Joe Boyce and Seamus Lydon outside Oughterard Garda Station
Retired Sergeant Joe Boyce receiving his centenary medal from Superintendent Damien Flanagan
Joe & Bridie Boyce at the Garda Centenary Exhibitiion in Oughterard Courthouse Nov 2022
Retired Garda Peter Cunningham and Sgt Joe Boyce
Inspector Padraig Boyce
Garda Eugene Boyce
Eugene & Ciara Boyce and family at the Garda Exhibition

Joe Boyce, Retired Garda Sergeant, 16573E

I was born in Carrigart, Co. Donegal. After leaving school, I worked on the family farm. In the summer of 1965, I saw an advert for the entrance exam to join An Garda Síochána. I sat the written
exam in Letterkenny and was successful. I completed the medical exam in Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park on the 8th March 1966; the day Nelson’s Pillar was blown up. I reported to the Garda
College, Templemore in May 1966.
It was a long way from Carrigart to Templemore (340 kms) – I recall, having been home one weekend, “thumbing” lifts back down to the Garda College . . . I eventually got there on the Sunday
night after getting 18 “lifts”.
After completing my initial period of training, I was allocated to Oughterard in September 1966. At that time it was a District Headquarters with a Superintendent and a 24-hour service. The station
was located across the street from the Corrib Hotel.
In June 1967, I was transferred to Leitir Mór Garda Station and given that it was a Gaeltacht area, all correspondence, giving evidence in Court, etc. were done through the medium of Irish. During this
time, I was sent on temporary transfer to Clones, Co. Monaghan on border duties during the ‘Foot and Mouth Disease’. I also spent two months on temporary duties in Pettigo, Co. Donegal during “The Troubles”.

In July 1970, I was transferred to Clifden Garda Station, which was also a District Headquarters at that time. I married my wife, Bridie, during this time; whom I had met shortly after arriving in
Oughterard in 1966.
In August 1971, I was transferred to Bunbeg Garda Station, Co. Donegal (again another Gaeltacht area) and moved up there with my wife and newborn daughter, Clodagh. I spent eight years there
where three of my children were born, Padraig, Dermot & Eimear.
In October 1978, I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to Burnfoot Garda Station, also in Co. Donegal, on border duty.
In February 1979, I was transferred to Rosmuc Garda Station in the Connemara Gaeltacht where we lived for five years and two of my children, Eugene & Ailbhe were born during this time.
In September 1983, I transferred back to Oughterard . . . where my service began and was to finish! Oughterard was still a District Headquarters at this time with a Superintendent, two Sergeants, approx. seventeen Gardai & one civilian Garda staff. In 1984, Salthill became the new District Headquarters with Oughterard’s station party being reduced to one Sergeant and five Gardai.

I retired in June 2002 after 36 years’ service, having thoroughly enjoyed working in An Garda Síochána. I met some wonderful people both in An Garda Síochána and in the communities I worked
in. I would do it all over again if that were possible . .
Two of my sons and two daughters followed my footsteps by joining “The Force” as we referred to it and I also have two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law in An Garda Síochána.

Joe Boyce

 

Many thanks to the Boyce family for sharing their great collection of photos

This page was added on 23/01/2023.

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