Local Gardaí set to change the face of the law!

With some local Garda stations closing in recent times and others under threat going forward, it's true to say the face of the law is changing. That's certainly the case in stations in Tullamore, Clara, Edenderry and Daingean, where over 50 officers have all pledged to sport moustaches for the month of November in a bid to raise much needed funds for Tullamore DeafHear. Speaking one day before the start of the "tashathon" event organiser Garda Joe Egan of Tullamore station said he was moved to do something when the possibility of DeafHear on Church Street in Tullamore having to reduce its hours was raised. Garda Egan's own daughter wears hearing aids, and he said the local DeafHear is a great service that's finding it hard to get funding. "We don't want anything else to close," he explained. The event will see all participants sporting a moustache style of their own choice. Popular choices so far include "detective" and "traffic" styles Garda Egan laughed, while Tom Selleck/Magnum PI moustaches are also frontrunners. Participating Gardaí will all aim to fill sponsorship cards for the month, while donations can also be made to DeafHear in Tullamore. Garda Egan said he's hoping to raise what he can, though he has no specific figure in mind. He said this fundraiser is his first time having a moustache, and he has to look twice whenever he sees his own reflection until he gets used to it. It'll be back to normal on the facial hair front in early December however, when Garda Egan hopes to arrange an event where all moustaches will be shaved and fund raised will be tallied. Encouraging locals to give what they can to support the fun event, Garda Egan said it's something different, it's for a good cause and all funds raised will stay local.