Fond farewell for Ger and Ciaran

Newtownmountkennedy and District Tidy Towns organised a farewell party for two stalwarts of the local community as they head into retirement.

Ger Roche has retired after 40 years as the local postman, while Sgt Ciaran Gormley retires after over 20 years based in Newtown.

The retirement night was organised by the local Tidy Towns group as an expression of thanks to both Ger and Ciaran for all their years of hard work.

Ger was initially based at Pearse Street in Dublin but took over from the late Jack O’Brien when he retired from the route that included Newtownmountkennedy.

Ger spent 40 years as the local postman and soon became renowned for his sense of community spirit. He always made sure to check up on elderly residents while doing the rounds, and was considered by many as Newtown’s original ‘Neighbourhood Watch.’

He continued the same postal route for all of his 40 years in Newtown, becoming a well-recognised face in the process.

Sgt Gormley had been based in Newtown for 20 plus years and still remains highly thought of. The Tidy Towns commissioned a personalised walking stick made from holly by a local artist in recognition of Sgt Gormley’s love of hillwalking. Ger received a commemorative letter made form lead, a play on the fact he has had to lift a ‘ heavy load’ for most of his working life.