46 men dead: the Royal Irish Constabulary in County Tipperary, 1919-22

The RIC was comprised primarily of Catholic Irishmen.

In January 1919 the IRA began their campaign against them with the Soloheadbeg ambush.

In the next four years, 493 members were killed and hundreds more injured. 46 policemen were killed in Tipperary alone, making it one of the most violent counties in Ireland, in the most violent province.

The RIC has been portrayed as the 'eyes and ears of Dublin Castle' or an oppressive colonial police force subjugating its fellow Irishmen.

Atrocities were committed by both sides, however, and the grim reality of the conflict frequently differed from the heroic struggle for self-determination subsequently portrayed.