New Garda HQ to provide firing range for weapons training

The new Garda regional headquarters in Renmore – which will be open by the end of 2017 – will be a state-of-the-art training centre for armed detectives and specialist units.

The Garda Commissioner said the HQ will be a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the West of Ireland.

The €28 million building will be one of the only stations in the country to include a firing range which will be used to train officers in the use of firearms, including submachine guns, hand guns and Taser weapons.

Work on the new regional and division headquarters – on a site opposite GMIT – began last week, and will be completed within two years.

The 8,000 square metre facility will be built over one, four and five storeys and there will also be a 4,000 sq m basement.

As well as public and private offices, there will be conference facilities, a vehicle testing area, victim support facilities, a firing range and parking for around 220 cars.

For more on the new HQ, see this week’s Galway City Tribune