Dundalk Garda Kate Patterson talks about life on the force

Garda Kate Patterson started her career as an architect but during the Celtic Tiger crash decided to look at different options and joined the Garda Reserve Unit where she knew she had found her career path.

Gda Patterson, who joined the Gardaí in 2007 and is a well-known Community Policing officer at Dundalk station, spoke to the Dundalk Democrat about her time in the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary and life as a garda stationed in Dundalk.

And as Garda recruitment campaign deadline approaches on Thursday Gda Patterson is encouraging people who “don't want to be in an office from 9am to 5pm or stuck doing the same thing every day” to apply.

Garda Trainees get paid €354 per week for the 36 weeks of training with food and accommodation provided free while resident in the Garda College, Gda Patterson explained.

READ MORE: Starting salary revealed for Louth Garda trainees

Gda Patterson said: “I did a Degree in Architecture in Queen's University and was working as an architect in Dundalk when the recession after the Celtic Tiger started to hit.

“People I studied with were losing their jobs and going abroad as architecture was one of the first professions to start getting culled as no buildings were being designed.

“From when I was in my early 20s joining the Gardaí had been in the back of my mind but I was happy enough with what I was doing.

“And then when I was forced to start looking at different career options in 2007 the Gardai were actually recruiting.

“I joined the Garda Reserve first for a while. I think my parents sort of encouraged that, just because I was giving up a career I had spent seven years training for.

“I spent six months with the Garda Reserve and loved it, that sealed the deal and I went to Templemore to start my training.”

Gda Paterson told how she loved her time training at the Gara College in Templemore and she met people that became life-long friends.

“It can be daunting for anyone to go to Templemore and live down there for 36 weeks but all your food is included; all your board is included; there is a great canteen!

“It is very structured, which is great – it is Monday to Friday, you have classes, PE, physical training, legal training, first aid and self-defence, and you learn how to deal with people, they do lots of communications classes.

“There are usually around 20 people in your class so you get to know everyone, even now my class are all still friends 18 years later.

“There is also a great social life in Templemore too. There are loads of clubs and societies. I played for the rugby club and we actually won a College's All-Ireland.

“Templemore has maybe five or six pubs. There is a curfew, but that is only so you are fit for class the next day.

“There are lots of places we went for coffee together and then maybe on a Thursday night, we would go out for something to eat and a couple of drinks together.

“It is intense and you learn a lot but you also have great craic.

“There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with sports and societies.

“And then you are getting paid €365 a week while you are training. And then once you graduate you start on a wage of €37,311.

“Classes are usually from 9.30am to 4.30/5pm and you get your break for lunch.

“Everyone has a room to themselves.

There is also a great gym facility there and a swimming pool.

“I loved my time in Templemore and I made really great friends. I looked forward to getting down on a Sunday evening for the routine of the week.”

Gda Patterson said one of her friends at the Garda College even became her sister-in-law!

“My sister-in-law was in my class in Templemore.

“We sat beside each other in Templemore and she is now a Detective Sergeant.

“She met my brother through me and now they are married and he is a Garda too.

“We went from having no Gardaí in the family to having three!”

Gda Patterson said that when people graduate as Gardai and are placed in stations across the country there is a great support system as they learn the ropes.

“There are trainee stations, each county will have a couple of training centres. Dundalk and Drogheda are trainee stations.

“When when you come out of Templemore you are attested so you have your full powers as a Garda but you will be a probationer. You will be on probation for a period of time.

“Normally there are five or six people stationed at the same trainee station.

“You are also assigned a tutor garda and you shadow them.

“There is a really great support system.”

Gda Patterson said there are plenty of perks to the job as a Garda.

“You have a shift roster of four days on, four days off.

“They are 12 hour shifts and you do two two-day shifts from 7am to 7pm and when you finish at 7pm you are not back until 7pm the next day, so you will do two night shifts from 7pm to 7am and then four days off.

“Getting four days off between shifts is really beneficial for people that do play sports as it allows you to go home and train.

“It is also beneficial if you have children as people are now joining a little bit older.

“I am a mum, I have a teenager who is 15 so the four days off are great.

“Also, with shift work it allows you to do things like get your off-peak gym membership, do your banking, doctors appointments, get your hair done – things like that when you are working a Monday to Friday aren't as easy.

“It is hard to get used to night shifts, you have to be disciplined. And also you have to be disciplined and stay fit.

“Everybody has to do their three years on the frontline regular policing unit and many choose to stay in that role, but after the three years you can choose to specialise. Some specialist units are 9am to 5pm, some don't have night shifts.”

Gda Patterson says “there is a real bond, your unit becomes a second family”.

“I wouldn’t be able to do my job as well as I can without my partner Gda Darragh Prior, we have each other’s backs and have worked together now for four years.

“With our Sergeant Ronan Loftus we are a real little team amongst a bigger team and although each day has it’s challenges, we have the best craic together and get each other through the difficult days!

“You become very close to your unit.

“Everyone in the unit brings different and all bring something different to the table – different life skills, personal skill and language skills”, she continued.

“In Dundalk station we have a couple of guys from Eastern Europe who have joined the Gardaí.

“To have that additional language ability is fantastic.

“It is great to have that richness and diversity and variety of ages and gender.

“When I joined, my class was the first class to have more females than males in it – there were 14 girls and eight boys.

“We have seen a lot more women over the years joining.

“For the first time now we are recruiting up to 50 years of age.”

Gda Patterson said “no two days are ever the same”.

“One day I was helping to police the Leinster training at Dundalk Rugby FC and the next week I will be at a school talking about internet safety.

“I am also a family liaison officer so I link in with the families of murder victims or fatal traffic collisions.

“And as I work weekends we are always logged in as a patrol car on the radio so we can be dispatched to calls.

“A career as a Garda is perfect for someone who is curious, you need to have a curious mind, an ability to work under pressure and use your adrenalin in the right way.

“It is a great career for someone who doesn't want to be in an office 9 to 5 and doesn't want to be stuck doing the same thing every day.

“The biggest pull of the job is the fact that every day is different.

“And it is a good wage – the basic wage when you start is €37,31 but you will add to that because you work weekends.

“Every Sunday you work you get paid an extra allowance; doing night shift you get paid an extra allowance. If you work overtime on a Bank Holiday you get double pay. There is a great opportunity to boost your income.

“Even as a probationer in the first three years you could be offered a public order course, you could be offered a family liaison course like I did.

“Even though you are attached to a regular unit for the first three years you have an opportunity to branch out and maybe work overtime in the drugs unit.”

The latest Garda recruitment competition will run until 3pm on Thursday 27 February, 2025.

The competition will be operated by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of An Garda Síochána and candidates can apply at https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/garda-trainee