27 new Gardaí have been assigned to the northwestern region, which includes the Galway division, more than 13% of the total of the latest group of freshly sworn officers.
Another 207 new Gardaí have been sworn in from the latest graduate class, in the largest single attestation carried out since before COVID.
The current 14,825 sworn Garda members exceeds the previous highest number of 14,758 in March 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A further 398 Garda recruits are in training in the Garda College, with the next intake 264 to enter the Garda College on the 2nd November 2026. In March 2020 the Garda College shut due to Covid-19 restrictions with no further recruits in training.
Speaking at the Attestation Ceremony Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said, “You are joining An Garda Síochána at a time of significant growth and development. Following today’s event, An Garda Síochána will have the highest level of Gardaí in its history, as we now approach 15,000 Gardaí.”
“This is an important milestone as we continue to strengthen our capacity to serve communities throughout Ireland. Furthermore, your intake represents the largest cohort to pass out from the Garda College since before the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“Of course we expect to further strengthen frontline policing and build our capacity to serve communities throughout Ireland. And, this year, we expect to see close to 1,000 new Gardaí passing through the Garda College, reflecting the continued progress being made in recruitment and training.”
“There remains strong interest in a career in policing and we are working to build on that momentum in the years ahead,” Commissioner Kelly said.
From the 207 fresh Gardaí 84 have been assigned to the Dublin region, 76 were assigned to the eastern region, 27 to the northwestern region, and 20 the southern region.
These newly attested 207 members of An Garda Síochána were recruited as part of the 2024/ 2025 recruitment campaigns.
Intake 261 commenced training on February 9, 2026 and have undertaken a blend of on-site learning in the Garda College, and experiential learning in training Garda stations.
The 207 newly attested Gardaí bring to over 2,400 the number of Probationer Gardaí attested since recruitment recommenced in 2022.
