Pat Collins retires from council after 42 years service
Tributes have been paid to wellknown Wexfordman Pat Collins who has retired as County Secretary, after 42 years working with Wexford County and Borough Councils.
Pat, who was the Returning Officer for many elections over the years, joined the County Council in the late 1970s and gained experience working in a number of departments, including housing, planning, sanitary services, environment and finance before joining Wexford Corporation in 1995 as Borough Accountant.
He became Town Clerk of Wexford in 2002, spending 11 years in the position before transferring back to the County Council as County Secretary six years ago.
Pat served under four County Managers during his time working in the local authority including Noel Dillon, Seamus Dooley, Eddie Breen and Tom Enright and as Town Clerk in the Borough, he worked with a succession of Mayors.
‘It’s time to go. I’m definitely looking forward to retirement, to spending more time with my family and to playing more music’, he said.
Pat said Wexford has seen many positive developments over the past four decades. ‘When you take the long view, you realise that there is progression and things really do happen.’
He singled out the RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) Scheme which brought improvements and supports to local residential communities as one noteworthy example.
Pat said goodbye to County Hall last Friday evening, but not before receiving many messages of tribute, appreciation and good luck from management and staff led by the County Manager Tom Enright.
The farewell gathering included colleagues who were physically present and many others who joined in via Teams.