WATCH: Emotional scenes as 206 Gardaí graduate in Tipperary
Tipperary Town woman among largest class of new Gardaí to graduate since before Covid
A significant milestone for An Garda Síochána was marked at the Garda College in Templemore on Friday, July 24, as 206 new Gardaí were officially attested in the largest single graduation class since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The members of Intake 254, took the oath of office during a ceremony attended by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and PSNI Chief Constable John Boutcher.
The graduation represented a major step forward in rebuilding Garda numbers following the disruption to recruitment caused by the pandemic, with the latest intake bringing the number of probationer Gardaí sworn in since recruitment resumed in 2022 to more than 2,200.
Addressing the newly attested Gardaí, Minister O’Callaghan congratulated them as they began their careers in public service and acknowledged the commitment required for the role.
“I want to wish all the members of An Garda Síochána well in their careers. It is a very worthwhile career they are embarking on and also that obviously there are risks involved in it but that I suppose is part of the reason why people want to devote themselves to public service within An Garda Síochána,” he said.
The ceremony also saw the attendance of PSNI Chief Constable John Boutcher, with Minister O’Callaghan welcoming his presence at the event.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said the attestation was an important boost for communities throughout the country, as the new members prepare to take up positions in Garda stations nationwide.
“We have 206 members of An Garda Síochána being attested today so that is really welcome for communities all around the country,” he said.
The Garda Commissioner also highlighted the continued pace of recruitment, with more than 200 additional recruits due to begin training shortly after the ceremony.
The 206 new Gardaí completed a combination of classroom learning at the Garda College in Templemore and practical training in Garda stations before reaching their graduation day.
The class reflects the increasing diversity of An Garda Síochána, with 24 graduates born outside Ireland and representing 15 different countries, including Slovakia, Poland, Brazil, Nigeria, Canada and Vietnam.
Of the new members attested on the day, 142 are male and 64 are female. Their assignments will see them join Garda stations across all regions, with 94 allocated to the Dublin Region, 56 to the Eastern Region, 25 to the Southern Region and 31 to the North Western Region.
The ceremony also recognised outstanding achievement among the recruits, with awards presented to members who demonstrated excellence throughout their training.
The latest attestation comes as An Garda Síochána continues its efforts to increase frontline resources, with 404 recruits currently training at the Garda College and further intakes scheduled throughout the year.
With Garda recruit classes continuing to enter Templemore every 11 to 12 weeks, Friday’s ceremony marked not only the graduation of a new group of officers, but another important step in strengthening policing capacity across Ireland.