For student Garda Conor Sheehan, who comes from Ballineen, West Cork, being accepted for training as a garda was a dream come true. "I'm close to achieving a lifetime's ambition," he explains. "I grew up in a garda family - my grandfather and father were gardai and my two brothers are in the force. I can remember being asked in primary school what I wanted to be and saying "either a garda or an astronaut. The Irish space programme didn't really take off, so . . ."

It has been, though, a case of third time lucky. Before he was accepted, Conor, who is 26, had made two earlier applications. "This was my last opportunity," he comments.

His first application was made directly after his Leaving Cert. On his second attempt he made the interview, but got no further. Finally, he says, his increased maturity came into play and he made the grade.

Conor spent the intervening years working as a barman - he trained at Cork IT. "I liked bar work but didn't want to do it for the rest of my life," he notes. Now in phase three of his training, student Garda Sheehan happily admits to being one of the "older lemons" in his class at the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary. Most of the students are aged around 19 or 20, he says. There's great camaraderie there and he's found everyone very friendly and helpful. The college's midnight curfew was a little hard to take at first, "but it's a small price to pay and it's only while you're here".

Sheehan's first six months were spent in the college studying law, policing, sociology and politics. Then it was off to a Limerick Garda Station, where he spent three months shadowing a garda and a further three months on placements in special units. Back in Templemore, he's working on projects, case studies and essays. "After phase three, provided you pass all your exams, you're attested in to the Garda and become a fully functioning garda in training."

His training, he says, has more than lived up to his expectations, although he hadn't anticipated so much book work. "It was hard for me at first because I'm out of practice, but there was nothing I couldn't handle."

Conor says the facilities at Templemore are excellent. He has a comfortable room of which he is sole occupant. The swimming pool is fantastic and there are soccer and Gaelic pitches, a full-sized sports hall and a gym. Golf, too, is available at a nearby course. "College is nine-to-five and your time's your own after that. You're told what you need to do but how much work you put in is your own business. However, if you don't make the grade you don't continue."