A job in An Garda Siochána is filled with variety

Explore the opportunities available to women in An Garda Siochána.

In July of 1959 the first twelve women joined the ranks of An Garda Síochána; today women account for approximately 37% of all personnel across the organisation.

An Garda Siochána offers women equal opportunities to explore a rewarding career across a wide range of areas of expertise, and has a very active Women’s Network. The Network has become an important source of support, encouragement and connection for women in the organisation, and has created opportunities for mentoring, career development and professional growth.

HER spoke with Garda Tara Brady about her experience in An Garda Síochána. Tara joined the Gardaí in 2005 just before she turned 19. "I was a baby going into the guards," she joked.

"My first station was Longford, and I was in Longford from 2006 until 2014." When she started, Tara was the only woman in her unit. She then went on to Ashbourne, where she was stationed until October of last year. "Now I am in the driver training school in the Dublin Metropolitan Region."

Most people have no idea what they want to do at 19, but not Tara. Joining An Garda Siochána had been a dream of hers since childhood: "I think I was five when I first started talking about joining the guards. As far as I've been told, I've always spoken about it."

"Maybe I was just really nosy," she laughed. "I wanted to know where they were going and what they were doing when the sirens came on."

"I always, always wanted to be a guard, and that was it," she continued, noting how she never changed her mind.

When asked about what has changed in An Garda Síochána since joining, Tara noted the visual change of the An Garda Síochána, noting how when she began her career, Members had to wear leather dress shoes. "We didn't even have boots when I stared," she exclaimed.

"We all didn't have a radio when I started," she added.

"That's kind of just the visual of really what people see," Tara said, noting how there have also been huge internal changes.

The developments in technology have revolutionised the workspace for Gardaí. Tara noted how the "handheld mobility device" carried by officers is "just amazing".

"I'm in the driver training school now, so I'm not out on the road or going stopping vehicles the way other Gardaí are doing," she said. Tara continued, "but it must make their lives so much easier on the side of the road to know you know you can check somebody's driving licence and know if they're disqualified."

When it comes down to it, however, it is the variety of the work that Tara loves.

"I don't think I'd like to sit in an office. I don't think it'd suit me to sit in front of a computer. So, I love the variety."

"I love that it does not matter what you expect your day to be, if you have a plan for something, it ain't gonna turn out that way for you. Something else is gonna happen to change what you're doing," she added.

She also spoke about the level of camaraderie that comes with the job: "Your unit becomes your little family, and it might drive you crazy sometimes, but nobody else is allowed to complain about them."

"I love the camaraderie and the teamwork," she said. "You still have to do your own thing and paddle your own canoe at times, but God, the teamwork is outrageous when you're in the thick of something, and I love that."

When asked what advice she would give to other women thinking of joining An Garda Síochána, Tara said, "I think go for it. There's nothing now to hold anybody back."

"It doesn't matter if you're male or female, you can go for and be part of any unit. Whether it be your arm support units or your divisional drugs units or your detective units, anything.”

"If you have an interest in it, go for it," she concluded.

Efforts have also been made to eradicate the gender pay gap within An Garda Siochána to huge success. 

A snapshot date of 23rd June 2025 was chosen to assess the gender pay gap in An Garda Síochána (AGS).

17,860 Garda personnel were recorded in An Garda Síochána on this day. The report found the Garda Member gender pay gap was 3.16%. 

This is in line with data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) from 2025, which tells us that Ireland's gender pay gap has reduced to 3.5%.

Despite this, there is always more to do to encourage women to take the leap and join An Garda Síochána.

Whether you're starting off your time in the working world or looking for an exciting career change, An Garda Siochána could be the shake-up you need. 

The recruitment form can be filled out here. The application form is a little lengthy, so be sure to give yourself enough time to fill it out!

Applications are open until June 3rd, 2026. 

From your time in the Garda College to becoming a member of An Garda Síochána, it's a job worth doing.