PICTURES: Kind and respected Kilkenny woman retires from An Garda Síochana

Colleagues and community members have shared messages of thanks for Garda Noelle Curran following her retirement from the force. - PICTURES BELOW

Garda Curran was a well-liked and deeply respected member of An Garda Síochana in Thomastown, serving in the County Kilkenny town for over a quarter of a century.

Curran left a career in the bank in Cavan for a career in An Garda Síochána in 1994. She toiled in Dublin city centre stations, until her transfer to Thomastown in 1998.

Last Friday, the outgoing garda received a heartwarming send off in the Community Hall in Thomastown, with lovely presentations, speeches, laughter, chat and a friendly atmosphere.

READ NEXT: 'It truly means the world' - Kilkenny resident takes home Employee Excellence Award

"Throughout her career, Noelle displayed a fairness, calmness, professionalism and had a depth of kindness and empathy in her way of dealing with people," a garda spokesperson said.

"She made many connections through dealing with difficulty, tough investigations and also through her association with local sport. She assisted in setting up a very successful ladies football club in Thomastown in 2004/05 and played Thomastown ladies soccer, winning Kilkenny league and cup finals.

"She was the PRO of Kilkenny Ladies Football at the County Board and came all the way from Cavan to win a Junior All-Ireland Gaelic football medal with Kilkenny in 2007 as a goalkeeper, which led to a Coiste Siamsa award, in the same year for the lady’s footballer of the year," the spokesperson continued.

"Noelle was an exceptional garda, an excellent, hard working colleague and a friend to any person that was lucky enough to connect with her.

"Noelle will surely enjoy her retirement, she has herself firmly grounded in Mick, her husband and Ciara, her daughter. She has her love for travel and sport and wide extended friends and family," they added.

FOR MORE THOMASTOWN NEWS, CLICK HERE

CLICK > TO SCROLL THROUGH PICTURES