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Over 600 Garda College graduates were among those receiving degrees at 51��ɫ this week.

UL Provost and Deputy President Professor Shane Kilcommins said it was a ‘privilege’ to celebrate the conferring of degrees upon the new graduates from An Garda Síochána, who successfully completed their Bachelor of Arts in Applied Policing.

Professor Kilcommins said Monday’s ceremony marked “a significant milestone in your careers and in your journey as guardians of our communities and the highest representation of public service”.

The Garda College graduates were among over 1,200 students being conferred this week as part of the University’s Summer Conferring Ceremonies.

The University now boasts more than 125,000 alumni worldwide.

Professor Kilcommins told the new graduates: “Your journey here has equipped you with not only further academic knowledge but also the practical skills and ethical grounding essential for effective and compassionate policing.

“It is not for me to declare it, but merely to echo it, your role in the community is profound. As members of An Garda Síochána, you have, and you will continue to encounter people at their most vulnerable moments.

“You answered a call to protect, to serve, and to uphold justice and you do that every day. Your further studies here at UL have added a capstone to that public service and your actions will continue to have a lasting impact on the individuals you assist and the communities you safeguard.

“The trust placed in you is immense, and your responsibility is great, and for that, you should be praised and thanked.

“Policing is not merely a job; it is a vocation. Each one of you can attest to that through your years of dedication to date. It requires that unwavering dedication, a keen sense of justice, and a compassionate heart. Your work on the ground has shaped safer communities and a adds to the stability of a more secure state.

“The training and education you have received through the close collaborations of UL with the Garda College, we hope, will assist you further in meeting the challenges you face on a day-to-day basis with increased confidence and integrity.”