All 90 members of An Garda Síochána who have lost their lives in the line of duty have been remembered at a special event in Co Louth today.
Garda Tony Golden was murdered as he responded to a domestic violence incident in Omeath, Co Louth in 2015.
The following year, a memorial cycle was established to remember the late garda, who came from Ballina, Co Mayo but was stationed in Omeath.
Now in its tenth and final year, the Garda Tony Golden Memorial Cycle has been expanded to commemorate the lives of all 90 gardaí killed in active service, the most recent of which being Garda Kevin Flatley in May of this year.
This year's edition of the event was titled 'Road of Honour' with hundreds of riders taking part in the final leg of the charity cycle and setting off from Geraldines GAA Club in Haggardstown this morning.
The organisers of the event have said this year's goal of participants cycling a collective 45,000km over the past week has been surpassed, reflecting 500km cycled for every member of the force on the Roll of Honour.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly met with a number of those taking part in the cycle earlier in the week and made a presentation to those who organised the event for the past ten years.
To date, the event has raised over €150,000 for charity. Past beneficiaries have included the Little Blue Heroes Foundation and Aoibheann's Pink Tie while all money raised this year will go to the Irish Cancer Society.
Garda Neil O'Malley, who has been involved in organising the annual cycle since 2016, previously said they wanted to find a way to mark the tenth and final edition of the event.
He said this year's event has garnered support from all over the country.
"It's hard to put it into words, really. It started off with us doing the Tony cycle, and now it has developed to remember everyone.
"We have people that are on the cycle this week who are relatives, that are grandchildren, of people who were killed in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and they are cycling every day this week.
"We think it's a great achievement for us to get them involved. They never knew about the Tony cycle until we came up with the idea of doing it for the 90, so it has spread the wealth of cycling through the garda community," he added.
Chief Superintendent for the Louth/Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division, Alan McGovern said this year's event was "very significant."
He said: "It's great to see so many enthusiastic cyclists here today. The aim of the cycle was to honour Garda Tony Golden, but also to honour the other 89 members of An Garda Síochána who were tragically killed in the line of duty.
"The team also met with Commissioner Kelly on Wednesday, and they cycled from Garda Headquarters to Adrian Donohoe Park in Lordship in honour of our colleague Adrian Donohoe [who was murdered in 2013].
"It's great as well to see the Golden family here this morning supporting the event, which they have done over the past ten years," he added.
Meanwhile, Superintendent at Dundalk Garda Station, Charlie Armstrong thanked all those who have been involved in the event down through the years.
He said: "I wish to thank the event organisers and the Golden family who have supported the event over the years, and I would also like to acknowledge all the support we have received from the community."
The final leg of the event today saw cyclists, including many members of the force, completing either a 65km or 90km sportive around part of the Cooley Peninsula.
