Annette’s retirement after 46 years
ON Friday night I headed for the Lisdoo where a special retirement party was taking place for Annette McDonnell from Reaghstown who had called it a day as Primary Care Manager after 46 years with the HSE and there to make sure she had a fantastic night was husband Pat, son Shane and his girlfriend Michelle along with a huge collection of her workmates from down throughout the years.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I caught up with Annette who was in great form who told me she was definitely going to miss lots of things about her work, but was now really looking forward to getting on with different things she didn’t really have the time for in the past.
Special guests there on the night were Head of Primary Care Services Joe Ruane and General Manager Siobhan Murphy who were there to wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
After this I headed over for a chat with Evelyn Farrelly from Blackrock and Kitty Murphy from Armagh who told me they had worked alongside Annette for years and she will definitely be sorely missed, but they were on hand to make sure she got a fitting send off.
Not too far away I got talking to Blinne Daly from Sheelagh and Sara Forde from Ardee who told me they had the pleasure of working with Annette in Ardee and St. Brigids, with Blinne saying that Annette was her very first boss. The ladies assured me that the night was going to be nothing short of ‘ a hooley’ and they were was every possibility that Annette was going to get ‘ the bumps’ before the night was out!
Heading for another group I then Had the pleasure of meeting up with Jennifer Callaghan from Belfry Drive, Audrey McKeown from Dromiskin and Amanda McEneaney from Darver who had worked alongside Annette for years, found her very fair and was great at encouraging her workmates to get the very best out of them and she definitely will be missed.
After this I headed over for a chat with Noeleen Callan from Carlingford and Margaret Cooney from Newry who said she was very good to work with, they don’t know what they’ll do without her, but wanted to wish her all the best for the future.
Not too far away I then met up with Dymphna Keenan from Clogherhead and Mary McKearney from Tallanstown who had the pleasure of working with Annette for 18 years, saying she is a lovely woman, really good to her staff and very caring too. But they were there to give her the send off she truly deserved.
Next I caught up with Primary Care General Manager Siobhan Murphy who had worked with Annette for a number of
Patricia Kearney, Nuala McKeown and Eilish McKeown.
years and said she really is an incredible woman, she always had solutions for any problems and has great integrity in everything she did and it was a pleasure to be there to wish her all the best in the future.
After this I caught up with my old friend Shirley McDonnell from Oaklawns who said with a smile that she had taught Annette everything she knows!
But also admitted that she will be hugely missed and this sentiment was mimicked by Fiona McKeown from Carrick Road who added that Annette is a brilliant individual to work with too.
Not too far away I got a word with mother and daughter Eilish and Nuala McKeown with Irene Fee all from Blackrock who told me they had worked with Annette for years and was invaluable for learning from and had thoroughly enjoyed working with her.
Finally, before I departed I caught up with Louise Dawson from Suil Na Mara who described Annette as a great public servant who had left a legacy that won’t be equaled and they were all there to pay tribute to a truly great woman.