A few weeks before he died on September 20th aged 74, Gregory Allen visited the Garda Museum in Dublin Castle to look up information on a topic he was researching. It was typical of him that he continued to follow his interests with enthusiasm until the end of his life. And it was fitting that he made that visit at that time: he was the first curator of the Garda Museum set up in 1974.
He was a man of enthusiasms. When he visited his son Fergal in Australia in latter years he developed an enduring interest in researching links between Ireland and Australia. He also developed a deep interest in the spirituality of the Australian Aborigine. Spirituality had always been important to him as his many Carmelite friends could attest.
Writing, too, was an abiding interest. He wrote for The Irish Times, the Garda Review and An S∅ochβin, a publication for retired garda∅.
He undertook, successfully, the monumental task of writing a history of the Garda S∅ochβna. His book, The Garda S∅ochβna Policing Independent Ireland 1922-82, was published in 1999.
He joined the Garda S∅ochβna in 1947 following five years in the Army which he had entered as a boy soldier during the Emergency.
He was born in the Liberties of Dublin on June 23rd 1927, to Geoffrey Allen, a Co Antrim man who had seen service with the British army and to Mary Murray who had ferried messages and small arms around in a pram for the republicans in the War of Independence. He was the eldest of five children.
Gregory Allen was educated at CBS, Synge Street. He then spent a year in vocational school before leaving to join the Army. The Army was quick to recognise his administrative abilities and he was appointed storeman while still a teenager. He also had a capacity for becoming bored. One day at the Curragh he decided to relieve his boredom by shooting a can. Unfortunately, sharpshooting wasn't one of his talents. The bullet missed the can and passed through several buildings, smashing windows on the way. As a result, his Army record describes him as "good" rather than "exemplary".
Many years later he was in another scrape, this time in the Garda when he wrote an article for The Irish Times opposing the idea, which was being debated at the time, of arming garda∅. He was brought before a review board on a disciplinary charge but, once again, the punishment was not particularly harsh: he was made to sign a copy of the regulations he had broken, and that was that.
The concept of the Garda S∅ochβna as unarmed "guardians of the peace" was one he valued greatly. He also valued the concept of the garda as a person of integrity in the community.
He developed and deepened those concepts during his career which saw him serving in many locations in the south-east and the east. He served in Counties Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin. His first posting was to Camolin, Co Wexford.
It was in Co Wexford that he met his wife, Mairead (nΘe Dunbar), at an ICA garden party at Edermine House (the home of the Power whiskey family), near the village of Oylegate. They married in 1953. Many will remember Mairead Allen as the public face of the Irish Housewives' Association.
Gregory Allen was made a sergeant in 1960. He subsequently became secretary of the Representative Body for Inspectors, Sergeants and Station Sergeants, now the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.
He was appointed to found the Garda Museum in 1974, then located in the depot in the Phoenix Park. The museum - now in Dublin Castle and open to the public - contains historical material on policing in Ireland dating from 1836. It was the perfect job for him - he was deeply interested in police history and, indeed, had suggested the establishment of a Garda museum many years earlier. He was a member of the Garda Historical Society.
Following his retirement in 1989 he was able to devote himself to writing and broadcast regularly on RT╔'s Sunday Miscellany. He loved music and sang with the Garda Choir in the 1970s. Music was in his blood: his father was a fine singer who included many of the ballads of Co Antrim in his repertoire.
He was also very fond of walking in the Wicklow Hills (Roundwood in Co Wicklow had been his last station posting).
He developed a great friendship with the Carmelites at Kilmacud and Gort Muire and with the Passionists at Mount Argus. In recent years he went to Mass every day to the enclosed Carmelite convent in Kilmacud. Indeed, he read to the sisters and sang for them and kept them up to date with happenings in the outside world
His wife, Mairead, predeceased him in 1998. They had seven children, Fionnuala, Niamh, Senan, Cormac, Fergal, Enda and Ultan.
His health had not been good recently, but he kept up his enthusiasm for life. He continued to love a good argument with his friends and his enviable capacity for excitement never left him.
Gregory Allen is survived by his seven children, sisters, Monica, Nuala and Maura, and brother Kevin.
Gregory Allen: born 1927; died, September 2001