JOE WHITE: GARDA RETIREMENT
Retiring Garda Joe White with some of his Garda Colleagues at his retirement party.
Tuesday July 27 2010
AFTER three decades in the Garda Síochána, Joe White will finally be able to walk his own beat after his colleagues in Carlow town threw a final farewell bash for him in Teach Dolmain. Joe, who had been stationed in Carlow town, Myshall and Bagenalstown for most of his career, knows the county's main towns and villages like the back of his hand and was both a familiar and popular sight during his time in the Gardaí.
Over the 30 years he's seen many changes since he was first trained in Templemore in 1980. 'When I went into Templemore, I might as well have emigrated,' he recalls. 'There was no way of communicating with your family. This was the time of no mobiles, just those big black payphones that used to eat your money!'
Joe, who lives in Wexford, is married to Patricia and has one daughter, Eadaoin, and three granddaughters, twins Shannon and Lea, and baby Emily. Having thoroughly enjoyed his years on the force, it's now time for Joe to sit back and relax a little. However, Joe reckons his adorable grandchildren will keep him just as much on his toes as he ever was.
