John calls it a day after over 43 years of dedicated service
After over 43 years, John O’Keeney got the ‘golden handshake’ and bid farewell to colleagues at Micro-Bio in Fermoy on Friday last, as he retired from his position in the plant.
In March 1981, the Fermoy man began his career in the company, having applied for the position through a friend. Working in shifts at the manufacturing plant, John’s job involved operating the chlorine plant and a lot of testing, with his work based mainly in the lab.
By the time his work at Micro-Bio came to an end last week, John O’Keeney was the longest-serving operator and despite only eight being on shift, in that space of time, he had known 23 different operators.
“I met a lot of friends there, lost a few. I must say I enjoyed my 43 years there. It paid my mortgage and put my kids through college. It helped out with three weddings!” John said.
CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST
Recalling their father’s time at the Fermoy facility, John’s wife Geraldine and his four children, Laura (Kenneally), Sarah (McCarthy), Carole (Conway) and Johnny, each recalled the sacrifices their father made for the job, having worked many a Christmas through the years.
“43 years later and we still haven’t figured out his shift rota. I can remember him coming home at 8am and he used to bring home chocolate buttons for his grandchildren. At 8am! Eating chocolate buttons for breakfast!” Carole said.
“Because of the shift work, it was ingrained in our head ‘be quiet your father’s asleep’, but I remember once when he was asleep and we were playing outside, he said it was the nicest way to wake up, to hear kids laughing,” Sarah recalled.
Now with his working days finally behind him, John intends on having an active retirement and hopes to focus more on golfing, fishing, timber work and, of course, some quality time with his family and his eight grandchildren. We wish him a long and content retirement.