Taoiseach views plans for new Clonmel Garda Station during visit to town's current station

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar viewed the plans for the new proposed Clonmel Garda Station when he visited the existing 19th century built station last Friday just days after a significant breakthrough in the long awaited project.

Clonmel Garda Station was the Taoiseach’s first stop off on his whistle stop trip to county Tipperary.

The visit came hot on the heels of Justice Minister Simon Harris’ decision earlier last week to expedite the development of the new Clonmel Garda Station earmarked for a site at the former Kickham Army Barracks by giving the all clear for it to proceed through direct exchequer funding.

It’s now expected that construction of the new station will start next year with the hope that it will be completed and ready to become operational in 2027.

He was greeted on his arrival by Clonmel Garda District’s new Superintendent Kieran Ruane and Inspector Declan Boland,

Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Pat English, Tipperary County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Roger Kennedy and local FG politicians Senator Garret Ahearn and Cllrs Michael Murphy and John Fitzgerald.

Supt. Ruane told Mr Varadkar the station was a former RIC barracks built in 1870 and has been the town’s Garda Station for more than 100 years since the State’s foundation.

Senator Ahearn and Cllr Murphy highlighted how its location on Emmet Street next to Tipperary County Council’s Motor Tax Office and Clonmel headquarters make it an ideal building to be taken over by the local authority to accommodate sections of the council currently based in other parts of the town.

The Taoiseach was then given a tour of the Garda Station’s public office and cells area and met with gardaí and administrative staff in the car park where the plans and artists impressions of the proposed new Garda station were laid out on a table for him to view.

Among those he met was Supt Ruane’s teenage son Dylan. He kindly autographed Dylan’s school notebook and requested his teacher to exempt him from class due to the visit.

Before departing for Boston Scientific, Mr Varadkar met Detective Garda Dan Quinlan, who has served at Clonmel Garda Station since 1985.

He was originally due to retire from the force at midnight that night but was delighted to be granted a two year extension to his career in the force.

Detective Garda Quinlan recounted to the Taoiseach that he was informed on his first day on duty at Clonmel Garda Station 38 years ago that he wouldn’t be there long as they were getting a new garda station in the town. He said there was great excitement over the news that the new station was finally going to be built. It was a good boost for morale.