Peelers practicing pulling powerfully

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Once upon a time Police were among the most powerful teams competing in the "Tug O War" competitions throughout the world. For years among the few pictures in Garda Stations were images of powerful Tug O War teams that competed internationally. This team were apparently RIC and what strikes one is that they are all over a very even height?

Photographer: A. H. Poole

Collection: Poole Photographic Studio, Waterford

Date: Insert Date

NLI Ref: POOLEWP 0598

You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie

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Owner: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 129476

ahpoole arthurhenripoole poolecollection glassnegative nationallibraryofireland tugowarteams policemen rope royalirishconstabulary ric waterford sergeant movember

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DannyM8
- 24/Nov/2022 08:48:53
Perfect advert for MOVEMBER
suckindeesel
- 24/Nov/2022 09:07:31
Pre 1900 based on sergeant’s pill box hat
Niall McAuley
- 24/Nov/2022 09:30:02
Is this the opposing team? POOLEWP 0570
Niall McAuley
- 24/Nov/2022 09:33:43
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] That one is labelled Tug of War, Parknew No idea where Parknew is.
John Spooner
- 24/Nov/2022 09:45:43
The account of the Wexford Cycling Festival in the Wexford People on Wednesday 03 July 1895 had this report on the tug of war event, including a rope controversy.
TUG-OF-WAR. Rosslare R N R v Gorey Police.—The Rosslare men were only a scratch team, and never had had a practice together, while Gorey were perfectly trained. For the first tug the Gorey men pulled with the wind, and brought over their rivals in a couple of seconds. In the next tug the Rosslare men succeeded in keeping the tug on for 20 secs, when they again went over. Gorey R I C • Waterford R I C.—Some difficulty occurred about getting the teams into line. The Waterford men held that the rope which they had brought was of the regulation size and should be used. The judges, however, held that as the first tug had taken place with the Gorey rope, which was only half the length of the other, the same rope should "go through the piece." Finally the matter was decided by a toss, the result of which was that the Gorey rope was used. The Gorey men pulled with the wind on the first tug. Their opponents comprised some, though not all, of the original Waterford team, appeared well used to the work and were a strong muscular lot. For half a minute not one of either team budged, and then the Waterford lost their balance and were got ever. In the second tug the Waterford men at first obtained a slight advantage, but Gorey soon brought back lost ground. They found it a far more difficult thing to shift their rivals, and several determined heaves were of no avail. Finally with a pull altogether Waterford went under after a minute's tug, and the Gorey police were declared the winners. The following are the teams and weights. Gorey Team—James Talbot, 15 st 1lb ; Peter Carroll, 14st ; Jeremiah O'Sullivan, 13It 13lbs ; Christopher Boland, 13st 11lb ; James Sweeney, 13st 11b ; John J Kenny, 13st 71b; William G Johnston, 12st 10lb ; Thomas McLaughlin, 12st 9lb ; John Dawson 12st 5lb ; James O'Leary, 12 st. Captain, Patrick Morahan Rosslare Teem—James Keane, 12st ; John White 11st 6lb; Richard Butler, 11st; Martin Connors, 11st 2lb; John Fortune, 15st ; John Swift, 10st 6lb ; Peter Murphy, l0st ; John Weadin, 11st; Thomas Davey, 12st. Captain—John Cracker, Rosslare Coastguards. The names of the Waterford team were not supplied to the Press.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help noticing that R H. Poole was cleaning up in the cycling events.
Deirge (Del)
- 24/Nov/2022 09:49:32
Well I have a photo of my late mother as maybe about a teenager just before or during The Emergency in South Sligo involved in a girl's tug o' war. And from the 60's/70's I remember various farmer's tug of wars to get beasts out or ditches they'd got themselves trapped in. Certainly in the UK when I was younger there was minimum height for constabulary, maybe 5' 8" from memory. Don't know what the current criteria is for the Guards ... sports proficiency might be more important.
Niall McAuley
- 24/Nov/2022 10:04:42
Next in the catalogue is Bay Farrel, believed to be ~1894:
Foxglove
- 24/Nov/2022 10:55:25
man at far right, a look-a-likey for another former police man (well KGB).. Putin !
suckindeesel
- 24/Nov/2022 11:25:32
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/ Can you ID the uniform?
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
- 01/Dec/2022 17:42:38
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] Definitely RIC! If you look at the badge it is the harp surmounted by the crown and usually with a red background.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
- 01/Dec/2022 17:44:37
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] It was 5' 9" until a few years ago but all height restrictions are gone now. I heard one cynical old officer comment on the new selection system that it favoured "Eggs with Legs"!
suckindeesel
- 01/Dec/2022 18:17:09
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/] No, I meant that other team catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000590493 which Niall McAuley speculated might be the opposing team. However, looks military, whereas John Spooner reported a match between the RIC and the RNR, which is naval.