Michael Connolly’s grandfather wanted to be a garda before his mother became ill. He went home to mind the farm and had to give up on his dream.
On Friday, however, Connolly became the oldest new member of the force. Now aged 50, the thought of joining An Garda Síochána was “always in the back of my mind”, but he too thought his chance was gone.
Then an unexpected opportunity came in 2023 when the maximum recruitment age for gardaí was raised from 35 to 50. “I had one shot at it,” said the married father of three.
He had been working at a healthy living centre in Northern Ireland. He applied and was accepted into the Garda training college in Templemore, Co Tipperary.
RM Block
He flew through the fitness test, as his part-time role as a League of Ireland referee meant he had to do between three and four fitness tests a year.
He has officiated at premier division, first division and women’s premier division levels, experiences that will stand him in good stead in trying to maintain law and order while dealing with abuse.
The maxim that gardaí are told to “stay calm” when confronted with a dangerous situation is one he has experienced regularly in refereeing. Still, he hopes to continue officiating at the women’s premier level if the time allows.
Connolly is a native of Aghyaran, Co Tyrone, on the Donegal-Tyrone border and lives in Glenfin. He was stationed in Milford during his placement.
“I have had nine months of challenge and some great people. It’s been all really good.”
At the other end of the age spectrum was 19-year-old Hannah Egan from Co Kildare. Her father, Det Chief Supt Ger Egan, works in the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Her stepmother, Louise O’Neill, is a garda inspector in Kilkenny City.

Egan, who says she was the youngest “by far” in the class of 2025, left school two years ago with the goal of joining An Garda Síochána like her parents.
“I saw my dad in the job and I always wanted to do the same as him,” she said.
“My father encouraged me. He loves the job and he couldn’t speak highly enough about it. I hope to follow in his footsteps if I’m good enough.
“When I left school, I knew I didn’t want to do anything else. I came here as soon as I could.”
What advice would she give to would-be gardaí? “I’d say come straight in. Everybody in here absolutely loves it. There is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Of the 154 gardaí who attested on Friday, 26 were born outside the state, from countries including Belarus, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Nigeria and the United States.