Should I join the Garda?
Can someone give me some advice?
I am early 30s with 2 kids and a mortgage and I've always had it in my mind about joining the Garda. As I'm getting older and realising year by year how much the work I do feels meaningless I am back looking at the Garda.
What is it like joining at an older age as I expect most applicants are early 20s? Or am I wrong here?
Is it feasible at all when you have a young family? I don't live in Dublin and while I'd love to be as close as possible to home I know you can be allocated anywhere. Are there any Garda out there that have to do a 2 hour commute each way then 12 hour+ shift? The day just doesn't seem long enough or is this what I should expect if I was to get in?
Also, I am hearing bad things about the pension. Is it really that low?
To add to all of the above, my wife does shift work so It will definitely make life a lot harder if both of us are working mad hours but we have good support around us so I think we'll figure that part out.
I am going to apply anyway to see how far I get through the application process but if anyone has any advice that would be great.
Tia