Posted by He said his experience as a League of Ireland referee would help him as a garda
A 50-YEAR-old former referee has become the oldest probationer ever in An Garda Siochana.
Michael Connolly, from Aghyaran in west Tyrone, was one of 154 gardai who were attested as sworn members at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, on Friday.
Mr Connolly said he was at Queen’s University 30 years ago and has a background in health and wellbeing.
He said his grandfather wanted to be a garda, but after his mother became sick he had to stay at home and maintain the farm, which remained his career for the rest of his life.
In December 2023 Mr Connolly’s father-in-law mentioned that the gardai were raising the age limit for new recruits from 35 to 50 the following month.
Mr Connolly, who turned 50 in April 2025, said: “I had one shot at it.
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