Castledaly's Conor among latest group of Garda graduates

After serving in the Defence Forces for more than eleven years, Castledaly man Conor Foley is embarking on another career path, having graduated on Friday last as one of the country's newest Gardai.

Conor was Westmeath's representative among the 24 new members who were formally attested during a ceremony held in the Garda training college in Templemore.

His parents John and Veronica, both of whom served in the Defence Forces, and his partner Patrece Carroll, from Ballinderry, Rosemount, were among those present for his graduation on Friday. Conor's uncle Des, and his wife Marie, also travelled to be there for the special occasion.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday, Conor explained that he served overseas on three tours of duty in South Lebanon with the Defence Forces.

He applied to the Gardai in 2019 but missed his initial appointment for the required fitness test because he was serving in Lebanon at the time. The fitness test was subsequently completed last January and he then joined as a Garda recruit in May.

His Defence Forces background stood to him during his Garda training, which he said was similar in some ways to military training, albeit with a bit more studying required.

Conor will now be taking up a role at Longford Garda Station in the coming weeks.

"I'm really looking forward to getting started and seeing what the job brings," he said.

These 24 new members bring the total number of sworn Gardaí to 14,157. The graduates on Friday were the final group of Gardaí to be attested during the organisation's centenary.