'Great career': All-Ireland-winning captain throws weight behind garda recruitment drive

The man who led Tipperary to their historic All-Ireland victory in July is urging members of the public to consider joining An Garda Siochana.

Ronan Maher is one of several high-profile sports personalities who are attending a recruitment event at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore.

The 29-year-old garda, who lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup over the summer, is currently attached to Portlaoise garda station in County Laois.

"We are just looking for people to come up and chat to us and we will give them some advice and application forms," he said, adding that he has enjoyed his time in An Garda Síochana to date.

"It's been a great career so far and there are lots of people coming up to us which is really positive and there are lots of questions so we are happy to help out everybody and it's been busy."

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Garda Maher says balancing his garda career and his hurling can be challenging but that he's already looking forward to next season.

"It can be difficult at times but it's been great with the support of my colleagues in Portlaoise garda station and, I suppose, it's all about being organised and being prepared for the year ahead and planning in advance.

The latest Garda recruitment competition, which was launched earlier this week, is now open and will run until 3pm on Thursday, October 9.

The competition will be conducted by public jobs on behalf of An Garda Síochána. Candidates can apply here.

Prospective candidates are being urged to consider the variety of roles that can be pursued within An Garda Síochána and the active nature of the role that means post holders are not typically desk-based and get to work on their fitness as part of the job.

Gardai say the costs of training to become a member of An Garda Síochána compare favourably with the costs of third level education.

Garda Trainees are paid €354 per week for the 36 weeks of training in the Garda College and graduate with a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Policing accredited by the University of Limerick. Food and accommodation is provided free while resident in the Garda College.

Those who successfully complete their training come out to a guaranteed, full-time public-service pensionable job, where they start on a salary of €38,694 which rises incrementally.

Garda Trainees will be assigned to work the core shift roster (12 hours) which attracts additional allowances, and will have the opportunity to work on overtime.