The first female members of An Garda Síochána from Donegal have been remembered today, on International Women’s Day.
Kathleen Kelly (neé McFadden) and Bridgeen Deale (neé Sharkey) were two of the first twelve women to enter the force over 65 years ago.
That trailblazing dozen were selected out of a total of 178 applicants to undergo a six-week training programme at the Phoenix Park depot.
All twelve passed their training course with flying colours, and on the 10th of July 1959, were made members of the force and allocated to the Pearse Street Garda Station.
Kathleen Kelly’s career in An Garda Síochána led her to meeting her husband, retired Garda Superindendent Tim Kelly, with whom she would also raise five children.
Kathleen, who was originally from Gaoth Dobhair, passed away in 2020.
Meanwhile Bridgeen, a native of Meenbanad, would go on to live in Blackrock, Dublin, and raise three children of her own.
She also passed sadly passed away in 2021.
Both women were remembered by An Garda Síochána today for their remarkable achievements.
“In July 1959, twelve brave women became the very first female members of An Garda Síochána,” they said via social media.
“Thousands of women have since followed along their pioneering path and many have taken up and now fulfil the most senior roles in Irish policing.”
“An Garda Síochána is a stronger, more effective organisation because of the many women who are or who have been part of it as Garda members and as Garda Staff members.”
The names of those first twelve women to become members of An Garda Síochána are as follows:
Bríd Wymbs (Leitrim); Mary Gilmartin (Galway); Angela Leavy (Dublin); Noeleen McGrath (Cavan); Elizabeth Dwyer (Sligo); Kathleen Kelly (Donegal); Sarah O’Sullivan (Longford); Helena Sparrow (Kildare); Bridgeen Deale (Donegal); Margaret Brown (Galway); Mary O’Donnell (Limerick), and Deirdre Killeen (Dublin).
Donegal’s first female Gardaí remembered on International Women’s Day was last modified: March 8th, 2026 by Daniel Brennan