Gardaí looking for people in Kilkenny to join the ranks - still time to apply!

TAP '>' ABOVE FOR LOCAL GARDA PROFILES

Have you ever thought of becoming a garda? This could be your chance!

An Garda Síochána is running a recruitment campaign until 3pm on Friday (April 14) to recruit 1,000 new Gardaí this year, as provided for in Budget 2023.

Here in Kilkenny, local gardaí have been getting the word out about the campaign by holding local recruitment drives.

The most recent of these drives took place on The Parade in Kilkenny City last week.

People from all across Kilkenny interested in becoming a garda could liaise with local members of the gardaí for insight into what the job entails.

Inspector Alma Molloy is currently the Liaison Inspector for the garda recruitment campaign in the Kilkenny/Carlow Division.

Inspector Molloy has been based in Kilkenny Garda Station since 2007, with 25 years of service.

She recently spoke to Kilkenny Live about the campaign and its aims.

“This campaign aims to build stronger and safer communities for the future by increasing diversity and inclusion within our organisation,” she said.

“We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to become a garda as it’s important to have a police force that reflects the diversity of the population we serve.

“Being a garda is a diverse and rewarding job, ranging from helping someone in the community to making an arrest or going to court.

“On a daily basis, gardaí make a difference in people’s lives, and the satisfaction of helping someone in need is immense.”

Inspector Molloy stated that the recruitment campaign is based on insights from frontline gardaí and features real-life examples from individual gardaí of how they have helped people and communities.

“We aim to show the nature of the job, including shift work, community engagement, making arrests, and supporting victims of crime,” she said.

Molloy also noted that there are many opportunities for career development within An Garda Síochána, such as working in specialised units, overseas duty, or promotion to a higher rank.

To give you a better understanding of the job, three newly trained garda members from the Kilkenny District have shared a brief outline of their careers to date and discuss the challenges and rewards of the job.

TAP '>' ARROW AT TOP OF ARTICLE TO READ THEIR THOUGHTS

If you’re interested in applying, please visit PublicJobs.ie and fill out the application form before 3pm this Friday.

New measures to help those applying will include advice on the fitness test, a buddy system, earlier vetting and online engagement with candidates.