Galway Gardaí staged a passing out parade for its latest batch of recruits last week – all of whom have already demonstrated courage beyond belief.

Because these honorary Gardaí are all officially Little Blue Heroes – children and teenagers who have had to deal with serious and life-impacting illnesses for all of their lives.

The Little Blue Heroes were given a VIP tour of the Western Division’s regional headquarters in Renmore, where they enjoyed music from the Garda Band, a chance to see up close the horses that make up the Mounted Unit; members of the Dog Unit, the Armed Support Unit and Galway Fire Brigade.

The day was hosted by the Little Blue Heroes Foundation, a not-for-profit-charity operated entirely by volunteers made up of Gardaí, past and present, alongside community groups.

Caption: Little Blue Hero Alex Burke from Masonbrook, Loughrea, with his sister Kayla and their mother Michelle and Galway Fire Brigade Fire Fighter Ros Fegan during celebrations for Little Blue Heroes at the Galway Garda Regional and Divisional headquarters in Renmore. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.

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