COLLEAGUES JOIN SEAN’S FAMILY TO MARK RETIREMENT
On Friday night I headed for Byrnes Bar where a rather special retirement party was taking place for Sean O’Callaghan from Bay Estate who was hanging up his apron after many years in the culinary profession, concluding with his final 12 years in FAS and a good crowd had turned up to celebrate with him.
I was only in the door when I met up with Sean who was with wife Sandra and kids Niamh and Grainne and he told me he was delighted to be retired and could concentrate on fishing and whatever Sandra needed done!
I then met up with his brother-in-law Kevin Finnegan from Manydown Close who was with wife Tracy and he assured me it was going to be a major night of celebration, a long one, but a major night.
I then headed over for a word with his daughter Grainne who was with boyfriend Darren Taaffe from Avenue Road who were having a laugh with Lucy Fay from Lios Dubh, Ger Byrne from Cluan Enda and ‘ the unreal couple’ Sarah McQuillan from Bay Estate and Ian Sweeney from Rock Road who were going to party till they were thrown out and then they were going to party some more.
Not too long later I met up with Catherine Jackson from Manydown Close who wanted to wish their friend Sean all the best on his retirement but were also enjoying their own celebration because they were celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary too.
After this I got talking to Paul Beggs from Lisdoo who worked with Sean and told me he will be sadly missed and they were all there to give him the send off he truly deserved.
He was joined by fellow workmates Marian Hassett from Belfry Avenue and Concepta Corrigan from Dromiskin who were up for making the best of Sean’s big night and wanted to wish him every happiness for the future.
I then headed over for a word with my neighbours Padraig English and Sean’s daughter Niamh O’Callaghan from Bridge Crescent who were up for a mad one and told me that Padraig will certainly be helping him with his fishing in the future.
Not too long later I then met up with fellow workmate Fred O’Hagan from Racecourse Road who wanted to wish all the best to a lovely cheerful fella who always had a smile and would do anything for you.
After this I got talking to Sean’s bestie Hugh Clarke from Avondale Park who was there on the night with his wife Catherine and assured me that there would certainly be plenty more fishing on the horizon. He was also having a laugh with Brian Gray from Mount Avenue who wanted to wish Sean all the best for the future along with Briege and Paddy McAleavey from Riverside Drive.
I then caught up with Marian and Concepta again who told me they’d worked with Sean for 12 years and he’ll be particularly missed during the ‘smoke break’ and how they will survive without his poached eggs in the morning, nobody knows, he a true eggspert. They then introduced me to Denise Martin from Collon who has only recently started in the kitchens and was up for making a good night of it with all her new workmates.
Beside Denise I then got talking to Sean’s boss Paddy and Caroline McKeown from Woodbury Gardens who told me Sean is a great laugh and will be definitely missed by everyone.
Not too long later I caught up with Sean’s sister-in-law Louise O’Rourke from Bay Estate who was awaiting the arrival of her husband Larry who was up at the Dundalk FC match and she assured me it was going to be a great party. She was having a laugh with her sister Sandra.
Finally, I headed over to a table where I found, more of his workmates and they included Paul Twibill from Knockbridge who told me that Sean is a ‘ total ledge’ and always had a smile for everyone, Ciaran McCann from Manydown Close who wanted to wish Sean every happiness for the future, Raymond O’Hanlon from Waterville Crescent who was up for making the best of the party, Ray Murphy and Marie Ballantine from Old Muirhevna who told me Sean always had a smile and a laugh and his poached eggs in morning were legendary.