Celebration as Barbara retires from Hospital
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES GATHER IN LISDOO
ON Saturday night I headed for the Lisdoo Steakhouse where a special party was being held for Barbara Collins from Beechmount Drive who retired from the Louth County Hospital after working there for 35 years and there to make sure she had a fantastic night was her daughter Amanda Durnin form Fatima Drive and daughter-in-law Joanne McCabe from Mounthamilton. This was a girls night out because missing from the celebrations was son Gary, son -in-law Mark and grandkids Cathal and Jake.
Barbara had started her career in laundry and progressed to household until last weekend when she said her final goodbyes to staff and patients alike.
I decided to have a look round to see who was up for making the best of her night and first met Theresa Clarke from Nicholas Street, Colette Sharkey from The Crescent, Frances Watters from Blackrock and Nuala Mullen from Point Road who told me Barbara will definitely be missed, she is a fantastic worker and they were going to make sure she had a fantastic night.
Not too far away I caught up with Valda Flynn from Broughton Street and Renee Duffy from Littlemills who said they’d definitely miss Barbara’s shouting around the place!
Seated close by were Essie McBride from Kilcurry and Monica Clarke from Blackrock who said the place won’t be the same without her and they were going to give her a major send off.
I then caught up with my old friend Linda O’Brien who was there with Roisin Coleman from Ashling Park who said she is a great workmate and they’d definitely miss her giving out, but there really only is one Barbara.
Heading for another table I then got talking to Sheila Grant from Glenwood, Maureen Matthews from Drumcar and May Cummings from Priorland Grove who said that Barbara certainly is ‘great auld craick’ and they were delighted to be there for the party.
Not too far away I then met up with Edith Moran from Barrack Street and Geraldine McKenna from Bay Estate who wanted to wish Barbara a happy retirement and want to wish her all the best for the future.
Making my way through the crowds I then got a word with Aine Carr from Castleblaney, Ann Carr from Toberona and Olive Lynch from Castlebellingham who said she is a really great colleague, always had a smile and hearty laugh for the patients.
The girls wanted a special mention for Brigid Finnegan, Alice Kerley and Helen Keenan whom they called the ‘Carrickmacross Chicks’ who are never on time for anything and were keeping up to their reputation.
After this I met up Jo Muckian from The Laurels, Geraldine Muckian from Lennon-Melia Terrace and Eileen McDonnell from Mullaharlin Road who hopes she enjoys retirement as much as Geraldine does and Eileen said she’s looking forward to joining them in the coming months.
Finally, before I departed, I got a word with Sheila Watters from Jonesboro, Evelyn Tynan from Avenue Road and Deirdre Kilkenny from Oaklawns who were ready to give her the send off she truly deserves and wanted to wish her every happiness in her retirement.