IN CONVERSATION

This week Killarney Advertiser's Michelle Crean spoke to Ireneus Looney who has retired after 20 years' service with An Post.

Working throughout the COVID period was probably one of the busiest of his career but Ireneus Looney now plans to relax following his recent retirement from An Post.

Ireneus from Laharn, Killorglin worked with An Post since 1999 covering the Killorglin area. And on June 26, when he turned 66, he said goodbye to his colleagues and bosses in both Killorglin and at the Tiernaboul sorting office in Killarney.

This week, he said he's looking forward to putting his feet up over the coming weeks but will miss everyone he worked with and met on his daily rounds.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "We're only passing through so we might as well enjoy it. It was a great job, being out in the fresh air meeting people every day. When COVID started we were like frontline workers especially delivering the An Post postcards. It was like Christmas watching children and the elderly receive messages from loved ones especially during the first month when the old people were really locked down."

Ireneus paid tribute to his co-workers and his bosses over the years who treated him very well.

"Liam Hartnett, my supervisor in Killorglin and Terry Potts and John Blackwell, my supervisors in the Killarney depot they were all very good to me over the years. I would also like to say thanks to An Post, it was great working for them for the last 20 years."

Now he plans to cycle a bit more, see his three children, Niall an engineer in Limerick, Edward who teaches in Loreto NS, and Róisín who teaches in Fossa NS and is getting married next year. There'll be more time to spend with his three grandchildren as well as his wife Geraldine who retired last year after 41 years as a staff nurse in St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort.

FAMILY

[caption id="attachment_32785" align="alignleft" width="1024"] FAMILY TIME: Ireneus is pictured here with his family and grandchildren. From l-r: his wife Geraldine, Edward Looney, Laura Cahillane, Sadbh Ní Luanaigh, Siún Ní Luanaigh, Clodagh Looney, Niall Looney, Ailín Looney, Róisín Looney and Paudie O'Sullivan. Photos: Michael G. Kenny.[/caption]