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You are > Home > Fred Garvey steps down to ‘leave it to the young lads’
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Thursday, April 08, 2004
Fred Garvey steps down to ‘leave it to the young lads’
“IT’S time to leave go. I have 38 years of service behind me. It’s time to leave it to the young lads”.
With that sentiment Fred Garvey this week bids farewell to the Garda Siochana after a long and distinguished career which culminated with a very successful term as Chief Superintendent in charge of the Kerry Division. 350 colleagues, family members, friends and acquaintances packed into the Brandon Hotel conference in Tralee on Friday night to bid a fond farewell to the long-serving Garda whose career in the blue uniform officially draws to a close at 12 midnight this Wednesday – the day of his 60th birthday.
Reflecting on his 38 years of service at the weekend, Chief Supt Garvey praised the people of Kerry for the support and encouragement he has received since he first arrived in the county in 1989. “I’ve had a wonderful time in Tralee. It is a very busy centre but I absolutely loved it,” he told the gathering at a dinner in his honour on Friday night. He said he would reflect on his 15 years in Tralee and on his entire career with fond memories and he said he was fortunate to have worked with such a committed and dedicated team of Garda members in Kerry.
“When you build a good team around you it makes all the difference,” he said. Chief Supt Garvey was born in Glanworth, Co Cork on 8 April 1944 but spent his formative years in Tramore, Co Waterford where his late father, Nicholas, was a Garda.
Fred worked with CIE for three years before entering the Garda training college in Templemore from which he emerged with the coveted Commissioner’s prize which is presented to the best student. He served for a number of years in Abbeyleix, Co Laois before returning to Templemore for 13 years where, under the guidance of former Commissioner PJ Moran, he helped to develop what is now regarded as the best police training college in the world. During that time Fred was promoted to Sergeant and was later elevated to the rank of Inspector.
In 1989 he was appointed Superintendent and transferred to Tralee where he worked closely with Chief Supt Donal O’Sullivan and in 1996 he became Chief Superintendent and served, for a brief period, in Bandon, Co Cork before transferring back to Tralee upon the retirement of Chief Donal O’Sullivan. “When it came to transfers I has three wishes – Kilkenny, Galway or Tralee,” he disclosed at Friday night’s function. Chief Supt Garvey said providing security for the highprofile visits of politicians and celebrities was an aspect of his job that he always enjoyed and he took particular satisfaction from the successful visits of former US President Bill Clinton and the Premier of China.
The successful hosting of a full meeting of the government ministers – the first ever cabinet meeting outside of Dublin – was another career milestone and he said he was very proud to receive the Golden Rose award for services rendered to the Festival of Kerry committee. Joining Fred at Friday night’s function were his wife Anne, his seven daughters Colette, Marie, Edele, Lorna, Anita, Margaret and Mary and son Ray who is based in Germany and is a major name in the pop music business in that country.
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