Retired Athlone IT staff honoured at function

Nine former members of staff who retired this year from Athlone Institute of Technology were recognised recently at a gala function in their honour. The seven men and two women between them notched up nearly 250 years experience at the college. The names of John Campbell, Pat Cassells, Joe Duffy, Tony Dunne, Nigel Foley-Fisher, Padraig Keenan, Dorothy Monaghan, Hugh Reid and Rose Reid would live long in the annals of AIT, said President Prof Ciarán Ó"Catháin. 'The AIT community of students and staff is indebted to each of you for your dedication, commitment and good cheer. You have inspired minds, provided support and been a friend to many. I trust that happy memories of AIT will continue to fill your days and that the time ahead will be blessed with good fortune and health,' said Prof Ó"Catháin. Three of the retirees worked in the Business School. Padraig Keenan joined AIT in 1980 and over the course of three decades, the Wicklow man worked as lecturer, head of department and registrar. Computing lecturer, Tony Dunne, joined AIT in the same year as Padraig. A folk music enthusiast, Tony was involved in the development of the new programme on music and instrument technology. Pat Cassells from Longford joined AIT in 1992, then took up an appointment at the Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies, before returning to Athlone in 1998. Four staff retired from the School of Engineering. Mayo man, Joe Duffy, held the longest service record of the retirees having joined AIT as a craft assistant in mechanical engineering in 1971. He later became a technician. John Campbell assumed the post of lecturer in physics in 1981 and brought the benefit of his expertise to both the Schools of Engineering and Science. Nigel-Foley Fisher joined the still-young college as lecturer in mineral processing 32 years ago. Hugh Reid also joined AIT in the mid-seventies as an electrical engineering. Throughout his tenure, he was a bedrock of competence across many courses and a notable advocate for the students. Dorothy Monaghan commenced employment as a craft assistant in the Hotel and Catering Department in 1981 and later became a departmental technician. Athlonian Rose Reid gave almost 20 years of service to the institute, the majority of that time being spent in the canteen. Rose"s sense of humour, her laugh and her green fingers are missed by staff and students alike.