About

This reason for this blog is pretty well laid out over in the introductory post. Read on for more about me.

Who am I?

My name is Barry and I intend to use this platform as a portfolio of sorts in relation to my journey into Data Analysis (and related topics). Here I am looking simultaneously confused and impressed at some topic I’m working on. I want to use this site as a record of my learning, knowledge and skills. I formerly worked An Garda Síochána (AGS) – Ireland’s national police service as a police officer for approximately 13 years. My time was spent in a mixture of roles from front line policing to plain clothes patrols and operations and for the final year worked in various technical roles. For that final period I worked for nearly six months in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, mainly carrying out initial triage analysis on exhibits. I moved from there into a divisional “Technical Support Unit” where I mainly carried out mobile phone forensic analysis.

These roles were technical but I wanted to get even more technical. As a result I have now moved into a new role as a Cyber Investigative Analyst. This role is a lot more technical, and I’m loving it.

I have a few qualifications in computer related fields, but nothing specifically data analytics related. With this blog and my new role I intend to move deeper in to the realm of data analytics. What I intend to do on this blog is bring people along with me on my journey as I focus more fully on Data Analysis.

I’ve always had a passion for technology. I studied Software Development (and German) in Dundalk IT straight out of school, but I lost my path for a while. I joined the public service as an administrative assistant, and that was no fun (work wise, the colleagues were amazing). However, what that role left me with was a leaning towards public service. So I looked for a more exciting and challenging public service role and ended up in AGS, one of the most challenging roles of all. But I still felt off my path.

As a result of working in AGS I had the privilege of being able to enroll in and complete the UCD Masters in Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigations which was exclusively for people working in Law Enforcement. I enrolled in that course back in 2013, just prior to that I found my way into the world of online courses with the likes of Udacity, where I learned Python. Between the two of those massive influences I have managed to find my way back onto the right path. My passion was re-ignited.

Since UCD (and probably during), I’ve completed a lot of online courses. I’ve done a Higher Diploma in Software Development, and I’ve just completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security.

I’m now dedicated to upskilling and determined to keep improving. I hope you get to learn a thing or two on this blog, but if you don’t, rest assured, I will!