Tipperary Garda Sharon Breen awarded prestigious McCabe Fellowship to study in US
Thurles native Garda Sharon Breen has been awarded the much coveted McCabe Fellowship and will jet off to New York on August 22 to commence a year-long Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Inspection and Oversight at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
The McCabe Fellowship was established to commemorate the life and career of Det Garda Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead during the attempted armed robbery of a post office in Adare, county Limerick on the June 7, 1996.
Annually, the Fellowship Programme offers a sergeant and a garda the chance to study for a Master’s at John Jay College in New York, which was formerly known as the College of Policing Science (COPS). John Jay College is affiliated to the City University of New York.
Sharon is the daughter of well-known local plumber, Jimmy, and former Thurles Credit Union employee Patricia.
“Sharon is a wonderful young woman and a dedicated member of An Garda Síochána. She is progressive and is a high-achiever by nature and she will make the best possible use of her time in New York.
“Sharon embodies all that is good and positive about her native country and will represent An Garda Siochana with honour and pride,” said Deputy Lowry.
Sharon attended Scoil Angela Primary School in Thurles until 2000 before moving to the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles.
When college beckoned, she chose to undertake a BA in Liberal Arts (German and English) at Mary Immaculate College, from where she graduated in 2011.
Following some time abroad working as an English language teacher, Sharon joined the Civil Service before joining An Garda Síochána, from where she graduated with a First Class Honours BA in Applied Policing from the University of Limerick in 2018.
Initially stationed in Santry Garda Station, Sharon was transferred to Ballymun Garda Station in April 2018. During her time there she also served in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) Covid-19 Regional Oversight Operations Centre.
Most recently, Sharon has been on temporary transfer to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at Dublin Airport as a member of the Investigations Team since February 2021.
She is also a member of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) Women’s Network Committee, which aims to support its members to advance their careers within An Garda Síochána.
Describing her successful selection as a recipient of the Fellowship, Sharon said that it was a huge opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally. ‘It is a chance to see and learn how policing operates in a different setting and to witness their best practice.
“It is a true gift to be able to work and live in New York for a year and to be an Ambassador for Ireland and An Garda Síochána,” she said.