Six local men and women are beginning their lives as newly qualified Gardaí today

Six local men and women are beginning their lives as newly qualified Gardaí today.

Yesterday they all took part in the passing out ceremony in the Garda Training College in Templemore – with five new members heading Carlow and Kilkenny’s way.

Out of the six locals who graduated yesterday, one is from Kilkenny – that’s Stephen Conway from Kells.

The other five are originally from Carlow, and they are Vanessa Fitzpatrick from Carlow Town, Edward Dermody from Nurney, Sarah Flood from Carlow Town, and Tara Wilson and Tadhg O’Connor who are both from Myshall.

However none of them will be staying locally – they’re all being sent off to other stations around the country.

There are still five newly qualified members of An Garda Síochána heading this way though.

Carlow Town is welcoming all five of the following: Fergal O’Connor and Róisín Kinnitty from Offaly, Darragh Douglas and Shane Moloney from Tipperary, and Ciara Heffernan from Waterford.

In total, 181 probationary officers took part in yesterday’s passing out ceremony.