Search
14 Nov 2025
Search
14 Nov 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
File photo
Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has this week welcomed the allocation of an additional six Gardaí to Newbridge and a total of 13 new officers to County Kildare, following a major attestation ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore.
The allocation comes after Senator O’Loughlin personally invited Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, to Newbridge in July to meet with local business owners and residents, where the urgent need for increased Garda visibility was a primary issue raised.
Senator O’Loughlin said: “This is a great allocation for Newbridge and for County Kildare. I am really delighted to see our advocacy pay off with these six new Gardaí for our town. When I invited Minister O’Callaghan to Newbridge in July, he heard directly from our community about the need for a stronger Garda presence. Today’s announcement is a direct and welcome response to that engagement.”
READ NEXT: Funding to assist in the integration of migrants in Kildare
The 194 new Gardaí and 17 Garda Reserves who have attested this week represent the largest single attestation of new officers since 2019. The new personnel will be assigned to Garda Divisions across the country, with significant numbers allocated to support high-visibility policing in Cork and Dublin.
“The attestation of 194 new Gardaí is a very positive step for national policing, and I am particularly pleased that Kildare has received a strong allocation of 13 officers,” Senator O’Loughlin continued. “This investment in our local Garda strength is crucial for community safety, supporting our local businesses, and ensuring residents feel safe and secure.”
The Senator also welcomed the news that the largest class of Garda recruits in a decade is set to enter the Garda College next week, signalling a continued commitment to growing the force.
“The pipeline of new recruits is essential. I will continue to work to ensure that Kildare remains a priority for Garda resources and that our communities get the visible, effective policing service they deserve. Today is a very positive day for Newbridge and for the wider Kildare area,” concluded Senator O’Loughlin.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
