R

RETIREMENT: Pat O'Donoghue outside Urban Optics. Photo: Michelle Crean

Eye’ll see you later!

Popular Killarney eye doctor, Pat O’Donoghue, has put away his eye testing equipment for good - as the third generation optometrist has officially retired - after over 40 years of service.
Since he announced the news well-wishes have been paid to Pat, who took over Urban Optics, a family business, in 1973.
His family have been in the optometry industry in Kerry for three generations, tracing back to the 1960s and have been providing a high level of eye care to Killarney and the wider Kerry area ever since.
Pat has overseen the expansion of Urban Optics, formerly named ‘Pat O’Donoghue, Optometrist’, including its relocation to Scotts Street in the town centre, where it has remained since 2007.
“Pat is rightly considered one of the leading optometrists in the country, through his commitment to consistently up-skilling and introducing the best and newest technologies to Urban Optics,” Sheila O'Sullivan, practice manager, said.
“His focus has always been on creating a business that is an integral part of the local community and he has certainly achieved that.
“I’m sure I speak for my fellow staff members, as well as the long list of customers that Pat has seen over the decades, when we wish him the best of luck in his retirement.”
Despite a recent change in ownership, all members of staff are staying on at Urban Optics.
And new owner Noeleen Loughlin, along with new optometrist Valerie Trant, have been welcomed to the practice by Pat himself.
“Noeleen comes to Urban Optics as a hugely experienced optometrist with a similar vision to my own. Having worked with her for the past year, I’m sure the practice is in good hands,” he said.
“We’re also very happy to welcome Valerie, and I’m sure, as a Killarney native, she will have no problem settling into the Urban Optics family.
“We could not have achieved such success without our wonderful and loyal patients, so I’d like to thank all of them for their support throughout my career in optometry.”

[caption id="attachment_25514" align="aligncenter" width="1960"] RETIREMENT: Valerie Trant, Noeleen Loughlin and Joanne Ni Churrain say goodbye to Pat O'Donoghue who has now retired.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_25515" align="aligncenter" width="1960"] GOODBYE: Staff at Urban Optics, Valerie Trant, Brid O'Callaghan, Joanne Ni Churrain, Siobhan Corridan, Noeleen Loughlin, Adrienne Walsh, Sheila O'Sullivan and Aisling O'Keeffe, say a final farewell to optometrist Pat O'Donoghue who has retired after 40 years service.[/caption]