THE local authority official credited with identifying and sourcing the spectacular giant Christmas decorations on the streets of Killarney is moving to a new position.
Eileen O’Donoghue has been a very dynamic, innovative and popular Killarney Municipal District Officer for a number of years but she is now moving to a new department with new responsibilities within Kerry County Council.
Eileen played a major part in sourcing the giant bauble and oversized festive season gift that adorn the streets of Killarney at Christmas and, as well as being visually spectacular, they have proven to be hugely popular appropriate props for seasonal photographs.
At this week’s meeting of Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Niall Kelleher said Eileen was fantastic to work with and her previous experience with another local authority was a great help which ensured that she brought great stability to her role in the town hall.
“She displayed great dedication to the job and Eileen was always to the forefront of promoting Killarney, very often outside of normal working hours and beyond the call of duty,” Cllr Kelleher said.
He added that every time he will see the big bauble, the giant Christmas present and the lights on the streets, he’ll think of Eileen.
“Killarney is very demanding but Eileen O’Donoghue coped with that and she did so exceptionally well,” he stated.
Cllr Brendan Cronin said Eileen’s fingerprints are on many projects in Killarney and she was top class at securing funding for various initiatives.
“It wasn’t always the big projects but the little things mattered to Eileen just as they mattered to Killarney,” he said.
“She will be missed but she’s now coming to another junction and taking another turn on the road and we wish her well,” Cllr Cronin said.
