A new booklet published at the end of June celebrates the special community relationship that has been enjoyed between police officers and the general public in Irvinestown over 19 decades.
‘Keeping the Peace, A brief history of policing in Irvinestown’, has been collated and written by a Fermanagh man operating under the alias of Lynas Wylde.
A celebration of policing in the community over 190 years, the 48 page booklet has been published for charitable purposes, with proceeds going towards Decorum NI and Fermanagh Voluntary Welfare Support Group.
“The booklet is non-controversial,” says the author. 
“It covers the Irish Constabulary, the Royal Irish Constabulary, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Police Service Northern Ireland.”
Paying particular tribute to Breege McCusker for her help and guidance with the project, Mr. Wylde says his booklet emphasises the good relations that have existed in the town between the police and the local community - especially since the formation of the Fairs and Markets Trustees in 1908. 
“Both Breege and I were of the view that there was always a good relationship between the local police and the community. 
“The people knew and respected the local police and the feeling was mutual,” said Mr. Wylde.
“Men from all over Ireland have served as policemen in Irvinestown,” he says. 
“It is intended that the booklet will be interesting, informative and even humorous on occasions.”
Less than 60 years ago, Fermanagh was able to boast 18 police stations across the county. 
Now it is home to only three.
Irvinestown was one of the 10 statins that were closed over the last 15 years due to ongoing restructuring of resources.
The last chapter of the book, entitled ‘The last man standing’, is penned by Trevor Connor a former PSNI constable who was part of the Irvinestown Neighbourhood Policing Team when the town’s police station closed its doors for the last time.
“It was a sad day when we had to leave Irvinestown Police Station back in 2011,” he writes. 
“I have happy memories of my short time serving in Irvinestown.”
The booklet also celebrates well-known names from the local policing past, including Constable Jack Daly, believed to be the longest serving officer in the area.
The booklet notes that Constable Daly built up a particularly strong bond with the people of Irvinestown over the years, having lived and worked there,
“Even when he retired he continued to live in the area that had become home to him,” says the booklet.
He had been one of the officers on the scene of the horrific terrorist incident at Brougher Mountain in February 1971 which claimed the lives five civilians when their Landrover had been mistaken for a military vehicle. 
They were killed in a landmine explosion.
‘Keeping the peace ... A brief history of policing in Irvinestown’ is available to purchase from Coalter’s Home & Hardware in Irvinestown and Roulston’s Centra in Ballinamallard.