Garda Siochana Literature

HWRower

Hi all,

Very new to this thing but am interested in joining An Garda Siochana. I'm waiting to apply that is. I was hoping someone would be able to point me in the direction of some good info on any aspects of AGS as the website doesn't seem to give a massive amount of information. Any help would be appreciated:)

Shield

The forum is awash with reading matter. Is there something in particular you're looking for?

da__flash

ask away :cool:

HWRower

I was hoping for something along the lines of what it is like to be a guard, what different units are like, specialist units, what its like in training, up in templemore, regular roles etc. I've found basic enough information but nothing too detailed. Anything at all would be helpful.

cagie

HWRower wrote: »

I was hoping for something along the lines of what it is like to be a guard, what different units are like, specialist units, what its like in training, up in templemore, regular roles etc. I've found basic enough information but nothing too detailed. Anything at all would be helpful.

you sure you want to be a guard, its not easy seeing a body scattered across a road and having to tell a parent their child is dead or been raped ect. it will change you as a person and not for the better, use google scolar advanced search there is some good articles and past exam papers there also. when picking your career think about the person you want to be in the future. to get into specialty units is not easy and comes done to both skill and sadly politics most people in these units have a family history in the gardai and also if any one in your family including cousins uncles ect have a criminal record it will be even harder and you will be moved to another part of the country often in the beginning to the middle of no were.

HWRower

Ye I'm very sure I want to be a guard and I realise that it will be tough but I'm just looking for more information. Looking at police services in other countries, for most of them there is lots of info as in like publications etc. from the actual forces giving this kind of info but AGS doesnt have as much and I'd just like to be as well informed as I can. I have a few cousins in the force but they are all closer to retirement age whereas i'm in my early 20s and while their info is great to get, I'd really like some more on what it is like for new members joining etc.

Paudie223

cagie wrote: »

furthermore if you have a very good leaving cert this can make it harder to get in!!!

Not true, lots of people in AGS with degrees etc.

Hooch

cagie wrote: »

you sure you want to be a guard, its not easy seeing a body scattered across a road and having to tell a parent their child is dead or been raped ect. it will change you as a person and not for the better, use google scolar advanced search there is some good articles and past exam papers there also. when picking your career think about the person you want to be in the future. to get into specialty units is not easy and comes done to both skill and sadly politics most people in these units have a family history in the gardai and also if any one in your family including cousins uncles ect have a criminal record it will be even harder and you will be moved to another part of the country often in the beginning to the middle of no were,furthermore if you have a very good leaving cert this can make it harder to get in!!! they dont want intelligent free thinkers, every police force in the world want people they can mold into whatever they want. FACT

The above post is totally untrue....FACT.

It is also bother line trolling.......please refer to the forum charter before re posting.

O/P there is a few reviews here on a day as a Garda for leaving certs.....might be worth a look.
Also just to clarify nearly all applicants had degrees up to three/four years ago.....and since then I would estimate 50-60% of applicants had third level qualifications.

shakin

HWRower wrote: »

I was hoping for something along the lines of what it is like to be a guard, what different units are like, specialist units, what its like in training, up in templemore, regular roles etc. I've found basic enough information but nothing too detailed. Anything at all would be helpful.

on the beat-mary o connor

the sheriff- gerry o carroll

paul williams has a few, there are some about CAB,abbeylara, specific murders...etc.

go to the true crime in ant book shop thats where you should find some:)

shakin

cagie wrote: »

you sure you want to be a guard, its not easy seeing a body scattered across a road and having to tell a parent their child is dead or been raped ect. it will change you as a person and not for the better, use google scolar advanced search there is some good articles and past exam papers there also. when picking your career think about the person you want to be in the future. to get into specialty units is not easy and comes done to both skill and sadly politics most people in these units have a family history in the gardai and also if any one in your family including cousins uncles ect have a criminal record it will be even harder and you will be moved to another part of the country often in the beginning to the middle of no were,furthermore if you have a very good leaving cert this can make it harder to get in!!! they dont want intelligent free thinkers, every police force in the world want people they can mold into whatever they want. FACT

interesting insight, are you a garda?

HWRower

Thanks those links are quite useful, with any look they'll be recruiting in the next couple years so I can actually apply. Here's hoping anyway. Is there anything that isn't required to get into AGS but is very useful when you do get in to either the college or beyond that, such as qualifications, courses, anything at all really? And also is there any of these that will put you in a better position for passing selection?

Hooch

shakin wrote: »

on the beat-mary o connor

the sheriff- gerry o carroll

paul williams has a few, there are some about CAB,abbeylara, specific murders...etc.

go to the true crime in ant book shop thats where you should find some:)

Mary O Connors book is rubbish. Not a proper book.....dont bother reading it.

The rest however are quiet good. Williams books are good......mostly factual

kravmaga

HWRower wrote: »

Hi all,

Very new to this thing but am interested in joining An Garda Siochana. I'm waiting to apply that is. I was hoping someone would be able to point me in the direction of some good info on any aspects of AGS as the website doesn't seem to give a massive amount of information. Any help would be appreciated:)

This is on the Garda website, see link below for Training review document......

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=5032

AGS are not recruiting in 2010 and wont be the the foreseable future, if anything they are suffering from low morale amongst members due to cut backs and senior management leaving the force in droves.

Why dont you look at the PSNI or a British Police Force, ie Metropolitian Police..... more prospects to specialise after initial training.....

kravmaga

HWRower wrote: »

Thanks those links are quite useful, with any look they'll be recruiting in the next couple years so I can actually apply. Here's hoping anyway. Is there anything that isn't required to get into AGS but is very useful when you do get in to either the college or beyond that, such as qualifications, courses, anything at all really? And also is there any of these that will put you in a better position for passing selection?

Well you have to be a person of good repute, ie No Criminal Convictions

Might be no harm to join Civil Defence or some sort of community group.

TheNog

HWRower wrote: »

Ye I'm very sure I want to be a guard and I realise that it will be tough but I'm just looking for more information. Looking at police services in other countries, for most of them there is lots of info as in like publications etc. from the actual forces giving this kind of info but AGS doesnt have as much and I'd just like to be as well informed as I can. I have a few cousins in the force but they are all closer to retirement age whereas i'm in my early 20s and while their info is great to get, I'd really like some more on what it is like for new members joining etc.

As part of my preparation for joining I read alot of the literature out there such as Paul Williams and even the Annual Reports which are published on the Garda website.

Most importantly I spoke with as many Gardai that had the time to talk to me. I asked them every question under the sun and felt no shame in going dropping into a station I was passing by just to have a chat. Most of the guards I spoke with, I didnt even know.

da__flash

TheNog wrote: »

I asked them every question under the sun and felt no shame in going dropping into a station I was passing by just to have a chat. Most of the guards I spoke with, I didnt even know.

and look where that got him :pac:

TheNog

TheNog wrote: »

felt no shame in going dropping into a station I was passing by just to have a chat.

How would you initiate that conversation?

Ye could hardly just drop in with a packet of biscuits and start talking about a 'day in the life'?

da__flash

Deleted User wrote: »

How would you initiate that conversation?

Ye could hardly just drop in with a packet of biscuits and start talking about a 'day in the life'?

you d just drop in say who you are and why you are there and most members will be more then happy to help from my experince.

da__flash

da__flash wrote: »

you d just drop in say who you are and why you are there and most members will be more then happy to help from my experince.

Yeah, but why are you there? What do you tell them? And what would you generally talk to them about?


I really like AGS and have never had a bad experience with them, but unfortunately, I've never really spoke to them at length either for any reason...

itsallgood

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah, but why are you there? What do you tell them? And what would you generally talk to them about?


I really like AGS and have never had a bad experience with them, but unfortunately, I've never really spoke to them at length either for any reason...

On a rampage....lol
You seem to know so much about everything with regard to AGSi, just looking at all your posts in the last few hours....
Can you just tell us everything with regards to whats going on at them moment?
When will we start?
Do we re-sit medicals? (just heard from someone that went in 4 years oago that sme medicals were nearly 2 years old)
Thats all i have but there's loads more out there that people wanna know.

itsallgood

itsallgood wrote: »

You seem to know so much about everything with regard to AGSi, just looking at all your posts in the last few hours....
Can you just tell us everything with regards to whats going on at them moment?

Are you talking to me there? :eek:

I don't know that much about them at all, to be honest. I'd love to know everything about AGS inside-out, but unfortunately the only information/knowledge I have of them is the info that has been shared on this forum by the boards members.

TheNog

da__flash wrote: »

and look where that got him :pac:

Some days I wished I hadnt bothered :pac:

Deleted User wrote: »

How would you initiate that conversation?

Ye could hardly just drop in with a packet of biscuits and start talking about a 'day in the life'?

Good God if you brought in biscuits any Polis will talk to ye about anything you want!!!!

Bring in a cake and we put your picture up on the wall and worship you for a week,

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah, but why are you there? What do you tell them? And what would you generally talk to them about?


I really like AGS and have never had a bad experience with them, but unfortunately, I've never really spoke to them at length either for any reason...

You ask about everything from local crime trends to work conditions to equipment, everything and anything about the job. I found that some members would have a different take on the job than others so I found it useful to have both aspects which gave me a better view of the whole picture or job in this case.