County Limerick has found itself embroiled in some rather unusual reports, prompting questions and intrigue among the locals and beyond. One particular rumor has piqued the curiosity of the public: the claim that, prior to the arrival of the current County Inspector, a local District Inspector had imposed a rule forbidding police officers in uniform from walking on the footpath. This somewhat perplexing assertion has captured the attention of many, and we await further confirmation or clarification of this intriguing tale.

The rumor, relayed to us by a correspondent known for their reliability, suggests that a peculiar decree was issued, stipulating that uniformed officers, whether on duty or otherwise, were to avoid the footpaths. Such a directive appears to echo an unwritten regulation that has been known to exist in certain districts of South Africa, where it was expected that individuals referred to colloquially as “Kaffirs” would stay on the road rather than using the footpath.

It is worth noting that this peculiar concept seems to have taken root in the imagination of our correspondent, perhaps as a result of reading similar stories in newspapers. In a rather surreal twist, they seem to have transposed this narrative onto the streets of Limerick, with the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) inadvertently assuming the role of the “Kaffirs” in this peculiar dreamlike scenario.

Nonetheless, while the story appears somewhat far-fetched and incongruous with the norms of the Irish policing system, we are open to the possibility that there might be some kernel of truth hidden within this curious tale. Should any further details or information come to light that can shed light on the origins or veracity of this rumor, we eagerly await such enlightenment.

Constabulary Gazette (Dublin) – Saturday 25 August 1906