To be a Garda for a day

There was a new Garda recruited for the recent Ireland vs. Italy Rugby Game! Six year old Dylan from Laois suffers from Duchene Muscular Dystrophy which is a wastage of the muscles and means he is confined to a wheelchair.

Dylan's one dream was to be a Garda for a day so when his mum contacted Share a Dream they immediately got to work on making his dream a reality. So, at the Ireland versus Italy game Dylan joined An Garda Siochana for the day as their new recruit when the Share a Dream Foundation made his dream come true.

With the fantastic support of An Garda Siochana, the Garda Press Office, the Garda Band, Aviva, the IRFU, Supporters Club and the Sandymount Hotel an exciting itinerary was planned for the young garda.

Dylan's dream began when a local Garda arrived at Dylan’s school in Laois the week before to invite him to Dublin to be a Garda for the Day! Then early on Saturday morning Dylan met his Garda team at the Sandymount Hotel and was presented with his Garda uniform. Then off into the Garda mini bus then and it’s off to Aviva Stadium for a full Garda security briefing on the day ahead. Dylan then headed off in the Garda Public Order Unit to secure all the perimeters and do a security check. Later Dylan will return to the Stadium to meet up with the Garda Band and get ready to parade on the pitch with the Band.

Dylan then took his seat with his Mum and Dad and sister to watch the game. After the game he attended a debriefing with his team and was later presented with a special plaque from Superintendent O' Brien. Garda Dylan was then transported back to Donnybrook station in the Garda Mini van and then return to his hotel for a rest after his big day and dinner.

Share a Dream would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who made this dream of Dylan's a reality – Garda Press Office, An Garda Siochana, The Garda Band, Aviva, the IRFU, Supporters Club and the Sandymount Hotel.