SNIPPET: James BREHENY was born in Greenane, Keash, County Sligo in 1871. He joined the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) on 15 September 1892 and was allocated registered number 55465. His diary was found after his death and has now found its way to a third generation of his family in Sligo. (See added note at bottom for more details). James was the 7th and youngest son of 10 children of Michael BREHENY (1829-1899). Three of James's brothers had emigrated to the United States. Michael settled in NY in June 1879 - his son was District Court Judge in East Orange; Thomas left in May 1884 and became Chief of Police in Washington DC; Bernard emigrated in 1887 and carried on a business in Newark, NJ. His brothers Patrick (1859-89) and Mark (1868-98) also joined the RIC as did his nephews John and Patrick BREHENY. In 1922, John BREHENY enlisted in the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) on disbandment of the RIC, whereas two of his sons, Mark and Bernard, joined An Garda Siochana in 1922. Bernard left the Gardai and emigrated to NY where he was murdered. James BREHENY was pensioned in August 1920 and soon after he came to reside at the Iona Hotel, Rosslare, owned by a Mrs. FURLONG. Writing 25 years later he stated, "I have not known an unhappy hour since." James never married. He died in 1948. The new proprietor of the Iona Hotel found his diary after his death and passed it onto a family member. The diary is a testament to James's powers of observation, which were no doubt enhanced by his RIC training. The diary itself contained over 100 pages of his travels throughout Ireland, the UK and the United States. "Irish Roots" magazine (1998 #3) published in Cork has an article with a nice photo of James BREHENY in uniform and excerpts from his diary. Here are just a couple tidbits: "I joined the RIC on 15 September 1892. I went to the Depot in Dublin that day and went under a course of training there which lasted until the 6 May 1893...." He goes on to speak of several transfers and/or duties in other counties - Limerick, Roscommon, Mayo, Wexford, Galway, Tipperary, Cork City, Kerry ..... ".... His Majesty King Edward VII visited Ireland in 1903. I was detailed as one of his plainclothes escorts during His Majesty's stay in Dublin. I became attached to the G Division Dublin Metropolitan Police. I travelled with the King to Maynooth College, Leopardstown Races, Belfast, Recess in Galway and Cork City. When this duty finished I got a month's vacation and I joined my brother Michael who was home on his first visit from America in 1903 after an absence of 24 years. He left Ireland in 1879 when I was eight years old..." He mentions his brother Bernard had purchased a hotel in Boyle.... .... "While in county Roscommon, I spent three months at the Four Roads RIC Station protecting a man named John BURKE who was boycotted for having grabbed a farm of land which Thomas KILLEEN had been evicted from. This was the most unpleasant duty I performed for three months of my police life..." and later .... "I went from Killinick to Wexford town, and was discharged on pension at Wexford on 17 August 1920. I was now a free man once again. It is the one thing a man looks forward to during his entire service. Of all the stations I had been in, I liked the Reserve Depot (apparently Dublin) most. Wexford was my favourite county and Mayo my least favourite. When in Mayo in 1907 His Majesty King Edward VII paid a visit to the Dublin Exhibition. I was again detailed to form one of his escorts in plainclothes. I was in Dublin on this duty for seven days.... I passed through the service without any trouble or bother. I never got into any trouble and left the RIC without having ever had any complaint made against me for any breach of discipline. It was my ambition to leave it with as good a reputation as I had when I joined the RIC. Now I was at large again in the world, a free man. The next thing was to find a place to stay. In the RIC a home was always provided; also clothes and bedding. For the first time in life it was up to me." The article is by Jim HERLIHY, an author who has written several books about RIC records. ADDED NOTE: Apparently the surname BREHENY (O'BREHENY) is interchangeable with the surname JUDGE, doing a search on the web. This was also verified by a 2001 note on a Rootsweb Message Board by a Paul Bernard JUDGE of Maplewood, NJ, who states that this (?) James BREHENY was his grandfather's brother, and that his grandfather Bernard KANE BREHENY started using the surname JUDGE after emigrating and living in NJ. He states that BREHENY comes from the word "brehon" (judge or law-giver). Jean