Eight new gardai from Westmeath and Roscommon graduate in Templemore
Five people from Westmeath and three from Roscommon became sworn members of An Garda Síochána at a graduation ceremony in Templemore recently.
The new gardai were among a group of 154 who graduated at a ceremony at the Garda Training College on Friday, August 22.
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris were in attendance, as well as family members of the new gardai.
Five of the new gardai are from Westmeath, while the county is also to receive an intake of two new gardai. Garda Troy Bradley, Garda Kevin English, Garda Jamie Meares, Garda Jason Murphy and Garda Marie Devine are all from the Lake County.
Garda Bradley and Garda Meares are to be stationed at Henry Street, Garda English will be stationed at Middleton Garda Station, Garda Murphy is to be stationed in Limerick, and Garda Devine will be stationed in Carlow.
Three of the new gardai are from county Roscommon. They are Garda Faoláin Sweeney, who will be stationed in Galway; Garda Katie Lee, who will be stationed in Sligo; and Garda Niall Moran, who will be stationed in Ennis.
Westmeath is also to receive two new gardai from the graduating class, with Garda Dermot Kiernan from Longford and Garda Jonathan Gamble from Donegal to be stationed at Mullingar Garda Station.
The graduating class of 154 gardai was made up of 122 men and 32 women, with 26 of the new gardai being born outside of the state and coming from Australia, Belarus, Brazil, England, Germany, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and United States.
Four of the probationer gardaí were former Reserve gardaí.
These newly attested 154 members of An Garda Síochána were recruited as part of the 2023 and 2024 recruitment campaigns. The new gardaí commenced their Garda training in December 2024 and have undertaken a blend of online learning, on-site learning in the Garda College, and experiential learning in training Garda stations.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Commissioner Drew Harris welcomed the new Garda probationers: "Today is indeed a day to celebrate, but it is also a day for reflection. It is a time to reflect on what it has taken to get to this juncture in your lives. To decide how you will make the most of this important opportunity. To consider what kind of Garda you are going to be.”
He added: "Do make the most of the opportunities presented to you. I also urge you to consider that each engagement and each interaction be it with an individual, group or community, can and does, have a lasting impact. These sometimes brief encounters stay with people. Whether it is the time you took to chat with an older person; or to sit and comfort someone at a time of sorrow, or in returning as stolen item to a victim of crime.
"These are the moments people remember always. These are moments when we can shine for those in the dark. These are also moments that will stay with you as you go through your careers as Gardaí."
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke has welcomed the allocation of two new gardai to Westmeath.
“I am delighted to see more Gardaí for Westmeath,” he said. “A visible Garda presence is central to the government's aim to build safe and secure communities.
“More Gardaí is one of the most effective measures we have for preventing crime and making people feel safer in their community. Across the country there has been the attestation of 154 new Gardaí, with 32 women and 122 men.
“I am delighted that this will be the largest allocation of probationer Gardaí to regions outside of Dublin in the past year.
“I’m thankful to our new gardaí for making a commitment to public service and to keeping people in our communities safe. I wish them the very best as they begin their careers with An Garda Síochána in Westmeath,” concluded Minister Burke.