THE Kerry Garda ball committee were delighted on Thursday to be able to present Vera O’Leary of the Kerry Rape Crisis Kerry with a cheque for €5,000 at a ceremony celebrating 60 years of women in An Garda Siochana.
The annual Garda Ball was held in the Killarney Oaks Hotel, earlier this month where the local gardaí nominated a local charity to benefit from proceeds of a special raffle on the night.
An Garda Síochána in the Southern Region commemorated the 60th anniversary of women joining as Garda members at the event in The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney.
In July 1959, following a long-running campaign by civic groups and with the support of the then Garda Commissioner and Government, 12 women joined An Garda Siochana and were allocated to Pearse Street Station.
Since then, women have made a crucial contribution to the organisation, as well as society. In December 1964 the first woman was allocated to the Southern Region and was station in the Bridewell, Cork.
Speaking at the event, Assistant Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon said; “Today we not only celebrate the 60th anniversary of women joining An Garda Síochána, but also the contribution women have made to An Garda Síochána and to policing since then.”
There are currently 3,780 females making up 27% of Garda members. This is above the European average for female representation within police services. In addition, 26% of the Garda reserve are female and 76% of Garda staff are also female.