An Garda Síochána

Today we went to the Garda station in Dungarvan. It was a very different experience than the police stations back home. They let us take pictures and walk around almost freely. We talked to the Garda officer taking us around and he was very friendly and open with information. After this, we walked to the court since it is only on Monday that court is held in Dungarvan. In the court there was a lot of people, and several cases being heard at once, so we sat in and listened. It was similar in some ways to our courts back home, I could see an influence, however it was also different at the same time. Seamus Heaney had a poem recounting this called "A constable calls", in which he talks about how a police officer came to his door and talked with his family. I have had similar experiences back home and felt a fear, although in Dungarvan Ireland I do not feel this fear, I look up to the Garda and they are very friendly.

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