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Coincidence and camaraderie: Two Laois women recall time in An Garda Síochána on their retirement

They joined An Garda Síochána on the same day in September 1991 and retired from Portlaoise District on the same date – October 25, 2024 – Detective Garda Maria McWey’s and Garda Ann Marie Dunphy’s paths often crossed.

Maria McWey from Spink and Ann Marie Dunphy from Cullohill entered the Garda Training College in Templemore on September 16, 1991.

They joined 64 other recruits on that day, including 18 female trainees.

Ann Marie always wanted to join An Garda Síochána, having been influenced by two uncles and two cousins who had been proud members of the force.

She went straight to Templemore after college where she studied applied physics.

Maria and Ann Marie were joined on their retirement day by six female colleagues and friends with whom they trained. The eight gardai kept in contact, meeting up every year since 1991.

Ann Marie recalls joining the force, brimful of excitement. “Women were scarce and there are still relatively few females but it’s on the increase.

“I was the first female in Rathmines garda station, the first female in a unit of 20 at Portlaoise garda station and the first female in the traffic corps in Portlaoise where I worked for seven years,” she recalled.

Maria’s first station was Donnybrook on Dublin’s south side while Ann Marie was assigned to Store Street in the city centre where she was on beat patrol. “It was a very young unit and very happy. It was a great place to cut off the raw edges.”

In 1994 Ann Marie transferred to Portlaoise garda station. “In Portlaoise unit C I worked with great men. Being the only female in the unit was never an issue.

“They were all good colleagues who had each other’s backs always. I was a peer supporter and worked in busy incident rooms, most notably the Ashling Murphy murder case,” she said.

“I never felt that gender held me back in any way or was an issue. I took every opportunity that came my way, I worked with lovely men and women as part of a team.

“There may be a more balanced approach now with increased numbers of women but there are a lot of women in senior positions so it is definitely there if you want it,” she said.

“There was great camaraderie especially when out and about, dealing with the public. The low points were the deaths of fellow members, either through murder or illness.”

Ann Marie married Dan Deegan from Cullohill and the couple went on to have four children. She remained in Portlaoise working in the regular unit, traffic corps and divisional office until her retirement.

Maria, meanwhile, transferred to Newbridge in 1995 and a year later relocated to Carlow, where she was the first female detective Garda appointed to the unit.

She worked on or was involved in a number of investigations including those of alleged murder, serious assaults, historical abuse and child abuse.

1996 also saw her marry Brendan McWey from Ballyroan and they have three adult children.

“One particular case that comes to mind as being difficult for all involved was the murders of Ruairi and Eoghan Chada in Carlow in 2013.

Kathleen Chada is a person I greatly admire for how she has coped with that great tragedy,” said Maria.

Both women say they would take the same path if they were to start all over again.

They said they put their families first and couldn’t have done the job without the support of their husbands, parents and families.

Both contended that it wasn’t any more difficult then to be a woman in the force than in any other job where women are juggling motherhood with shift work.

If Ann Marie could give a piece of advice to her young self, it would be to have a little more self-belief. “I have had a very happy and fulfilling career. Essential values remain the same: help when possible, protect life and property.

“Of course the job has changed in terms of technology, communications and cyber crime but the core values remain.”

On the question of difficulty in recruiting new members, Ann Marie acknowledged that pay and pensions are not what they were.

“Young people are no longer attracted to the ‘job for life’ idea. An Garda Síochána needs to be seen as a career/study option with scope for variety of work and good prospects for personal development, further education options, promotion and perhaps scope for career breaks or opportunities to work or study abroad.

“Three young people from Cullohill have joined An Garda Síochána in recent times. I am very proud of them and feel very positive for the future of An Garda Siochana when I see people of this calibre joining the force.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a career in An Garda Síochána to any young person. You will get out of it what you are willing to put in,” she said.

“I have learned that on the whole, the great majority of people are inherently good and greatly outweigh the bad. Good experiences have outweighed the bad.

“Some very sad and difficult situations have brought out good in so many. Wonderful friendships have been nurtured and sustained me throughout.”

Maria and Ann Marie are looking forward to retirement, and both have fond memories of their time in An Garda Síochána.

“I am looking forward to retirement. I have planned to do some work in the new year and I am hoping to remain in good health to be able to do so,” said Maria.

“Retiring with Maria has made the decision to go easier,” said Ann Marie. “I don’t feel lonesome as I would have had I gone to the ‘other side’ alone.

“I plan to spend more time with my family and have some jobs lined up for the future. As Maria says ‘retired, not expired.’ I will only miss my friends at work. The job is in safe hands.”

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