It's hard to see through the wall of tall men in grey, blue and beige suits. The room at Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park is packed with retired and working members of the force who have come to celebrate the publication of a book by friend and former colleague Gregory Allen. The Garda Siochana is a comprehensive history of the force by a man who joined up in 1947 and went on to become archivist at Garda HQ and curator of its museum.
Pat McGee, a sergeant in Crumlin, has been in the Garda for 26 years. John McGovern, an ex-chief superintendent, spent 43 years in the force. He spots ex-Commissioner Laurence Wren ahead of him in the queue for Gregory's signature. "Laurence of Arabia," he jokes affectionately. Did he call him that before? "No, only now," he says. Also in the queue is Carrick-on-Suir-born Willie Byrne, director of the Garda Band.
Sitting in grandeur among all the burly men are two friendly-looking women - Sister Lucy Staines and Sister Mary Benen Staines who are also siblings. "We're the children of Michael Staines, the first Garda Commissioner," says Lucy who has been with the Medical Missionaries of Mary for 51 years. "It's time I left, isn't it," she says with a twinkle in her eye. Did either of them ever regret going into the convent? A definite "No, never" from both.
"He's a brother," says Mary pointing to someone's back. A religious brother? "No, our brother," she says as Michel Staines and his wife, Nuala, turn around.
The launch, presided over by Garda Commissioner Patrick Byrne, is very much a family affair. Members of Gregory Allen's family are there in large numbers - sons Ultan, Senan and Cormac and daughter Niamh are there. His sisters are there also - Nuala, Maire and brother Kevin. Sean Hartley, Allen's nephew from outside Brisbane in Australia, is there with his fiancee, Wendy Easton. And grand-daughter Ruth Kelly (14) is there too. Will she become a garda when she grows up? She looks dubious. "I've no idea," she says slowly. She'll probably do "something in languages," she decides.