Angela Leavey, Neoline McGrath Sarah McGuinness, Mary O'Donnell and Brid Wymbs were 5 of 12 recruits who were chosen from 178 women who had replied to 1959 advertisements in Ireland requesting applications from women to join the Irish police force, the Gardai. The original crop 
of 12 female Gardai "hit the streets" 60 years ago today on 4 December 1959.
When the decision was made to open up the Gardai to female recruits in 1959 the Dáil (Irish Parliament) was told by one parliamentarian that female Garda recruits should be “horse-faced, they should not
When the decision was made to open up the Gardai to female recruits in 1959 the Dáil (Irish Parliament) was told by one parliamentarian that female Garda recruits should be “horse-faced, they should not
be too good looking; they should be just plain women and not targets for marriage". (Until 1973 when Ireland joined the EEC, female recruits had to retire on marriage and there was no question of "living in sin" while serving as a member).
In July this year, there was a ceremony
In July this year, there was a ceremony
held in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park to mark the 60th anniversary of their actual enrolment in the Gardai training school, which was attended by the Commissioner and a large number of female gardai of all ranks. At the 2009 anniversary 10 of the 12 attended. Tempus fugit.
