Council celebrates career of “outstanding public servant” Kevin Colreavy

MEMBERS of Sligo County Council elected and appointed gave Kevin Colreavy, communications officer with the authority a standing ovation following many tributes which were paid to him on Monday where news of his pending retirement after 40 years’ service was confirmed.

His loyalty, professionalism, integrity, ability and his easy, self-effacing way, his love for a chat over a cup of tea and his passion for his beloved Sligo Rovers were characteristics singled out time and again during those tributes.

Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady said it was the end of an era at Sligo County Council with the pending retirement of Kevin Colreavy.

She said her personal connection with the Colreavy family went back many, many years.

“The name Colreavy in our home was revered and deeply respected. When I went to work in headquarters in the HSE there was a member of the Colreavy family working in every section of HSE HQ and you would hear people describe the Colreavys as decent, helpful, bright people, no airs and graces and above all they had loyalty.”

When she was elected to the council in 1999 Kevin Colreavy was working in the planning section of Sligo County Council.

She recalled how in earlier years mayors of Sligo often wrote their own speeches which were often difficult due to time constraints and holding down a fulltime job. She said this changed when Kevin was appointed to Corporate Services and immediately took on the task of speech writing which was an enormous support to whoever was in office at the time. “Those of us who have served as chair know at first hand the support, the kindness, the consideration he gives to all caothaoirligh and to all the councillors. Nothing is a problem. “We have, every one of us, often got a text saying ‘I’m off duty but if you have a problem don’t hesitate to contact me at any time and that text could come in at 10 o’clock at night or nine in the morning.

“Kevin was and still is almost self-effacing in seeking recognition for his commitment. There was total loyalty, especially to all us councillors. Kevin, I congratulate you on your pending retirement. May your future be filled with happiness and good health. “Thank you most sincerely for being decent, kind, trustworthy, loyal, supportive, professional, a mentor and indeed a good friend.

“I’ll miss the many coffees and cups of tea we have shared chatting about Sligo County Council, our families and certainly about our beloved Sligo Rovers. The place will certainly not be the same without the presence of a Colreavy in Sligo County Council.” Cllr Thomas Walsh said everyone in the Chamber would echo what Cllr O’Grady said. He said he was a relative newcomer to the council, elected in 2019. “The first thing I was told when I came in here was if you have a question, ask Kevin and every question I asked him was answered rapidly by text or email. We talk about public service and public servants; Kevin exemplifies what public service is.

“What is very evident is that Kevin not only does his job well, he cares about what happens and about this local authority and about this county.” Cllr Dara Mulvey wished Kevin good health and happiness. “As a cathaoirleach during the pandemic the one thing I always remember in that post was that if you had an issue Kevin’s door was always open. Kevin would give you advice, if he couldn’t give you an immediate answer he would be back to you, you would get a text at any time of night offering help.I felt as well as being an elected member that i gained a friend in Kevin.”

Cllr Gino O’Boyle recalled coming into the chamber in difficult circumstances and how Kevin took him under his wing and gave him all the help he needed. “You were first class, you epitomise what Sligo people are about, you

Kevin Colreavy with John Healy at a youth soccer event in the Sligo County Council County Hall Chamber in 2019. were loyal, and you were just yourself and always came back to me virtually immediately. Sligo County Council will definitely be down a very good member with your retirement. You were a very good help to me and my family and I thank you for that.”

Cllr Declan Bree, associating himself with the remarks about Kevin, said his long association with Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council started a number of decades ago and during that period he has served local government in Sligo and the people in this community with distinction.

“As a councillor I had the privilege of working with Kevin over the years and I can give testament to his dedication and to his loyalty, not only to this council and all the elected members, regardless of their political persuasion.

“I don’t think any of us can overstate the significant role he has played in bridging that gap in local government which exists between those who are elected and those who are appointed. He not only had the trust and confidence of council officials, but he also had the full confidence and trust of all those who were elected by the people of this community.

“During his years of service, he never once sought acknowledgement for the exceptional work he carried out on many occasions above the call of duty, and I cannot imagine how he will be replaced.

“On a personal level I would like to thank him for the help, encouragement, and personal assistance he has given to me over the years. His overriding sense of courtesy and his reputation as a diligent and dedicated public servant is just part of his legacy and I expect much more will be said of him before he departs this council.” Cllr Tom MacSharry said it was very difficult to put into words how they all feel about Kevin. “Since I was first elected, I found him a great mentor, a great friend, a great man for advice. Irrespective of the situation or the urgency of a matter in hand, you were always there front and centre with your door always open. You were and are an outstanding public servant and you leave behind a sterling body of work.

“An excellent wordsmith, you always ensured that the first citizen of Sligo or any representative of Sligo County Council or Sligo Borough Council was fully briefed and on point and always represented Sligo superbly at home and abroad.

“Your love of Sligo and your eagerness to see Sligo develop and progress and reach its potential always shone through in your speeches. You are a very proud Sligo man, and we owe you a huge debt of gratitude.

“On a personal level thank you for your advice and friendship, you were a great mentor and were always apolitical and you were always working to ensure each councillor represented themselves, the local authority and Sligo generally to the best of their ability. Whoever has to try and fill your shoes will be very much at the foot of Everest to try and compete with your dedication to your job.”

He wished him, his wife Bridie and family the very best, adding “you might be gone Kevin, but you certainly will not be forgotten.”

Cllr Martin Connolly said when he came into the chamber over three years ago not having “an idea what to do” Kevin always pointed him in the right direction. He joined colleagues in wishing him health and happiness and added “maybe knock off that phone for a while now”.

Cllr Paul Taylor said they were lucky to be present to pay tribute to Kevin as many councillors had gone before them who would pay the same tribute.

When he came into the council eight years ago, he said he felt after five minutes he had known Kevin for five years. “That’s a great attribute for anyone to have.”

Despite his workload he said Kevin always had time to speak to us, to advise us.

Cllr Tom Fox associated himself with the previous comments. In his short time (three years) in the council Kevin had been very helpful to him. He said he was the third generation of his family serving as councillors and all three generations spoke very highly of Kevin.

Cllr Gerard Mullaney said Kevin always guided him with great attention and did so to the best of his knowledge and “he always had the knowledge needed in every situation”. He said he will be very hard to replace, he was always decent and had great empathy for all.

Cllr Martin Baker said Kevin had “treated all of us like family”. He added best wishes to him and his family.

Cllr Donal Gilroy said he had a very positive impact in north Sligo. He said he was keen they would remain friends and he had no doubt he would continue to ask Sligo for his help with community organisations in the area. Chief Executive Martin Lydon said the term “outstanding public servant is an overused term but that is not the case in terms of Kevin. He is one of the most exceptional people I have ever worked with. He is outstanding. He’s calm, supportive, confident. You can tell Kevin anything, you can discuss anything with Kevin, and he is also a superb organiser keeping me on track for the past 13 months. But most of all, and you have all said it, he’s just a great bloke, he’s one of the best you could come across.

“He will be missed by everyone and will be welcome back at any time - and we will get the tea bags out for you!” Cllr Michael Clarke said that Sligo people would be aware of the respect Kevin has for his county, for the local authority. As Cathaoirleach he instils a confidence in you to represent this county.

“Always encouraging, I as a first time Cathaoirleach one month into my term I felt like a 747 jet with Kevin as my co-pilot and when he told me the bad news that he was leaving it felt like ‘we had lost all engines’.”

He said his “friendship, advice, support, direction is unparalleled in any individual I have ever met, and he will never be replaced in this organisation. As the chief executive said, he’s an extraordinary public servant.” Returning thanks, Kevin typically added a humorous quote saying that while he really appreciated the sentiments expressed but added: “it’s like attending my own wake!”

He said he deeply appreciated the comments adding that he had hoped to slip away quietly without any fuss or fanfare as it doesn’t come easy. “I’ve worked here for 40 years and by a country mile my favourite place was Corporate Services,” he said.

He spoke about his relationship with former cathaoirleach Gerry Murray and the man he described as his mentor John McNabola. “John’s work was based on his respect for councillors. He said they had the courage to seek election on the ballot paper and he made sure we acted accordingly because of that. The same applies to our current chief executive. “Without being corny about it I think if there is some level of harmony inside the chamber there will be progress outside it and I believe Sligo is in a good position now.”

He said he would find an opportunity privately to thank councillors, but he wanted to put on record his appreciation of the kind comments which had been made.

ANOTHER Sligo County Councillor has insisted that promises and assurances made in July that a full-time permanent Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) service in Sligo University Hospital would be made available have been put in serious doubt if not entirely dashed.

On September 22 this newspaper reported how a letter from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to Fine Gael councillor Thomas Walsh raises new questions about the return of a Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) to Sligo University Hospital.

In the letter, seen by the Sligo Weekender, Minister Donnelly makes it clear that any decision to provide a permanent Cath Lab in Sligo will depend on a long-awaited report.

In our report three weeks ago, we reported how a furore developed in mid-June when Cllr Declan Bree (Independent) first revealed the mobile Cath Lab at the hospital would cease operating at the end of June with the health minister engaging with Oireachtas members to allay concerns.

We reminded readers how in mid-July the Sligo Weekender had reported that an agreement had been reached to provide a series of major upgrades to cardiac services at the hospital and this cooled concerns about the Cath Lab.

Cllr Thomas Walsh, Fine Gael, who received the notification in mid-September from Minister Donnelly, said it was vital that the recommendations within the report be made public and he questioned the length of time it has taken for that as yet unpublished report to come into the public realm.

Last week at a meeting of the Regional Health Forum West, Cllr Declan Bree was given an almost identical reply to the letter received by Cllr Walsh – and he has described the latest twist as nothing short of a betrayal.

“I have to say I am bitterly disappointed to learn that there is no commitment to provide a full-time permanent Cath Lab service in Sligo University Hospital.

“People in Sligo and the northwest were delighted in July when we were led to believe that there had been a breakthrough and that we would see the long-awaited permanent Cath Lab service provided at the hospital.

“But now our hopes have again been dashed and we are being provided with the same reply that we have been hearing at meetings of this Health Forum over the past number of years – that the outcome of the National Review of Cardiac Services is awaited.

“Again, it would appear that Sligo University Hospital and the people of Sligo and the region are being treated with contempt.”

In June, when news that the limited two-day Cath Lab Service in Sligo University Hospital was ceasing operation, there was huge concern in Sligo and indeed the members of Sligo County Council expressed their dismay at the failure of Government to provide a full-time service in the hospital.

Councillors were very much aware that without a Cath

Lab service in

Sligo University

Hospital, a person from the region suffering a heart attack will have much less chance of surviving then people living in other parts of the country “Best practice dictates that patients suffering a cardiac arrest need to be admitted to hospital within a 90-minute window if they are to get the best outcome.

“Today hundreds of lives in Sligo, Leitrim and the region are being put at risk because of the lack of a Cath Lab service in the hospital. This is totally unacceptable,” he said.

The provision of a full-time Cath Lab in Sligo was recommended as far back as 2013 when the HSE’s Northwest Cardiology Review Group issued its report, he added. “Five years ago, the Saolta University Health Care Group urged the Government and the Minister for Health to extend the cardiac catheterisation laboratory services at Sligo University Hospital. “However, on every occasion the matter has been raised in recent years we have been told by Government that no decision will be made on the matter until such time as the National Cardiology Review is completed.

“And here we are in the autumn of 2022 without a Cath Lab service. This is clearly outrageous. And obviously it must be distressing for many people from Sligo and the region who have a cardiac condition.

“When we lost our cancer services in Sligo people felt disappointed and betrayed. I have no doubt but that people in Sligo will now be outraged when they learn that no commitment has been given to provide a full time Cath Lab service in the hospital.”

LEFT: Cllr Thomas Walsh.