Summary: Ireland has welcomed the largest single attestation of Gardaí since 2019, with 194 new Gardaí and 17 Garda Reserves graduating from the Garda College in Templemore. The new recruits will be deployed nationwide, with major allocations to Cork and Dublin to strengthen high-visibility policing.
At a ceremony in Templemore today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan formally welcomed the attestation of 194 Gardaí — 57 women and 137 men — alongside 17 Garda Reserves. The event marks a significant expansion of An Garda Síochána, reflecting government commitments to bolster policing across Ireland.
The new Gardaí will be assigned to divisions nationwide, with 87 deployed to the Dublin Metropolitan Region, 47 to the Southern Region, 39 to the Eastern Region, and 21 to the North Western Region. Cork City will receive 36 probationer Gardaí, bringing the total allocation to the county this year to 76 — the largest since the Garda College reopened in 2014.
Taoiseach Martin praised the recruits, stating: “Over a hundred years after it was first established, An Garda Síochána continues to thrive because it grows and adapts with the times. At its core, being a Garda is about public service of the highest order.”
Minister O’Callaghan emphasized recruitment as his top priority, noting that over 11,100 applications were received this year through two campaigns. He highlighted the importance of high-visibility policing in deterring crime and strengthening public confidence, adding: “The class of 194 new Gardaí and 17 Garda Reserves attesting today will have an important role to play in conducting high-visibility operations.”
Looking ahead, more than 200 new Garda recruits are set to enter Templemore next week, representing the largest intake of trainees in over a decade.
The attestation signals a renewed investment in Ireland’s policing capacity, reinforcing community safety while marking a milestone in Garda recruitment and training.
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