‘Good bloody man yerself’ Michael on four decade county council career

MANY in Killarney and surrounding areas will know Michael O’Donoghue as a familiar face at Coolcaslagh Waste and Recycling Facility, where he was known for his catchphrase ‘Good bloody man yourself’ when finishing each transaction with a smile and a chuckle.

Michael began working in Coolcaslagh in 1986 having joined the council in 1979 working in both the roads and environment department. His first role was on the bin lorries collecting waste around the town.

Now after almost 40 years Michael is retiring from the local authority having reached the age of 65 earlier this year and is looking forward to a more relaxed way of life.

“It is a long time in a job and I will miss it for a while but I am gone 65 now and I have enough too,” he said this week.

With his three children grown up, two daughters and one son, Michael no longer needs to worry about his family and he is now looking forward to a more relaxed life just himself and his wife, Bridie.

Although he has no plans for his retirement as such he may take a trip to Australia where one of his children now lives or plan another adventure on his trusty motorbike. He has previously toured Holland and the continent by motorbike. He also fishing and shooting so he won’t be short of things to do.

Michael is one of those characters that every organisation cherishes. He is reliable, honest and has a great sense of humour and this was reflected in his work where he had a great relationship with customers and contractors alike at the recycling centre according to colleagues who paid tribute to him on his retirement.

According to Paul O’Connor Chartered Engineer , ‘they broke the mould with Michael, he was one of a kind and will be missed by the people of Killarney and East Kerry for his care, courtesy and consideration shown while representing Kerry County Council at the recycling facility’.

Michael is known far and wide in the county and this stems from his time spent as a GAA referee – in over 30 years he learned how to mediate and take control of situations.

He transferred this life skill into his work as supervisor of Kerry’s busiest recycling centre and his manner and skills will be sorely missed.

Michael’s colleagues from the Environment Department turned out at Coolcaslagh, Killarney, on a beautiful sunny Monday to wish him the very best in his retirement and on Friday he will visit Kerry County Council offices in Tralee for his final good-byes.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Michael O’Donoghue (fourth from left) with his colleagues Alan Kennelly, Paul O’Connor, Michael Flynn, John Mannix and Sean O’Donoghue at the Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre, Coolcaslagh, Killarney.