Primary pupils are all ‘booked’ by the Gardaí

Produced in partnership with Galway County Council, the ‘Garda Children’s Workbook’ was officially launched at the Garda North Western Region Headquarters in Galway by Assistant Commissioner Clíona Richardson last week.

In attendance at the launch were pupils from Oughterard National School, Barnaderg National School, Kiltiernan National School, Moylough National School, Gaelscoil de hÍde, Uarán Mór and Radharc na Mara School in Mervue.

Gardaí, members of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association and representatives from Galway County Council, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Oughterard Heritage and Moylough Heritage were also in attendance, along with local historian William Henry.

Assistant Commissioner Clíona Richardson told the audience that this was another indication of the Force’s place at the heart of Galway’s community.

“We are from the community. We are of the community and while we have had to over the years adapt and adjust to police a rapidly changing society, we have never lost sight of that relationship that exists between An Garda Síochána and the Irish people,” she said.

“It is this relationship that marks us out from other police forces around the world and it is my wish that we will continue to hold this special relationship with Irish Society for at least the next 100 years.

“Our workbook was created in bilingual format for Fifth and Sixth Classes and it provides an insight into the founding of the Force in 1922 and as to how those first Gardaí helped develop a style of policing which eventually led to them being accepted and trusted by the communities they served.

“Our workbook gives an overview of our formative years and goes on to set out some of the key events and developments across the decades that followed such as changes in deployment, training, rank structure, uniform, equipment and transport.

“It also explains the work that An Garda Síochána do today on a daily basis across the country in ensuring that we keep people safe. This work in some cases is carried out by specially trained Gardaí in a wide variety of roles and disciplines who deal with the many different crimes and issues that arise in a modern society, such as the Dog Unit, Mounted Unit, Air Support Unit and Armed Support Units but it also includes the vitally important work carried out every day by local uniformed Gardaí in our communities,” she added.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche said the Galway Garda Division covers the city and county, including the largest Gaeltacht area in the country and is responsible for the only offshore islands with a permanent Garda presence. All of the Gaeltacht areas, including the islands, are served by Irishspeaking Gardaí, he said.

“We will continue to police with the support of the people of Galway, which has been the case since the first Gardaí arrived in 1922. Community Policing is at the core of our work in this Division, and initiatives such as this Children’s Workbook are at the core of Community Policing,” said Chief Supt Roche.

Editor and Project Manager, Superintendent Damian Flanagan, said he hoped the workbook would generate an interest in history and in the Irish language among schoolchildren. He praised the Joint Editor and Project Manager, Galway County Council Heritage Officer Marie Mannion.

Ms Mannion said they had worked closely with teachers to ensure the workbook meets the history of AGS in Ireland, where Media for funding the project. standards for Fifth and Sixth they came from, what they do The workbook is being deliv-Class pupils and aligns with the and what it means to all of our ered to schools around Galway curriculum. lives,” she said, thanking the City and County by Community

“The whole idea for this is for Department of Tourism, Cul- Gardaí, and is also available to pupils to understand the rich ture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Click here to download the Workbook