Audio version

11

Aug/Sept 2010 www.esb.ie/em

ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Brendan Walsh and his wife Margaret with Michael Begley who made the presentation. Photo by Brian Fleming

Brendan Walsh retires

After 40 years service, Brendan Walsh retired from ESB and is now free to concentrate on his love for hill-walking and cycling. Brendan was joined by friends and family for a celebration in SPORTSCO, where Michael Begley, Manager CRM presented him with a gift and thanked him for his efforts. Throughout his career, Brendan displayed a level of commitment second to none and a depth of knowledge which guided his colleagues many a time. Brendan leaves with the best wishes and thanks of all his ESB friends and colleagues from over the years.

Aidan Byrne retirement

Aidan Byrne availed of early retirement from ESB recently. Aidan started his, 38 year career in Galway in 1972 before moving to Dublin in 1978. He performed many managerial roles for ESB Customer Supply including Billing, Payments and MOIP Business Readiness. Aidan will be well remembered for his expertise on customer service and his guidance and supporting attitude to all those who came in contact with him during his time in ESB. The large attendance of colleagues, friends and family members at his retirement function was a testament to his popularity. We wish him well for the future.

Paul Cullen making a presentation to Aidan to mark his retirement.

A fond farewell at NCCC

Pictured with Siobhan at an evening to say farewell are: Noeline Gibbons, HR Manager, her husband Sean, daughters Caoimhe, Eadaoin and Aoife and Denis Cambridge, Manager NCCC. A wonderful night was enjoyed after the presentation where Siobhan and John Finn held a joint function. They were joined by their families and many friends to bid them well for the future. John had retired earlier from NCCC. (see the June/July edition of EM).

Siobhan Downey, HR Customer Supply and based at NCCC in Wilton in Cork, recently took advantage of the opportunity to head for pastures new and left ESB and her ‘HR family’ to pursue her many interests outside the company and to spend more time with her family.

Know Your Neighbour Weekend

MIRIAM O'CALLAGHAN, Current Affairs Broadcaster with RTE, launched the 2010 Know Your Neighbour campaign recently. Miriam facilitated a panel discussion which addressed the question ‘Neighbours – who cares?’ The general consensus was that Irish people do care about their neighbours but must turn this care into action. The Know Your Neighbour initiative should be seen as a launch pad to start being supportive neighbours and called on people to say hello to their neighbours, citing the slogan, ‘Don't walk by, say Hi!

‘Know Your Neighbour Weekend’, ran for the fifth year on the weekend of July 24th to 25th. This is a nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging people to interact more with their neighbours by asking them to organise or attend a ‘Know Your Neighbour’ event in their community. Typically neighbours organised picnics, barbecues, parties, fun days and a variety of other social get-togethers.

Macra's National President, Michael Gowing said, “The ‘Know Your Neighbour Weekend’ is the perfect opportunity for us to turn our caring thoughts into actions. The simple gesture of saying hello and being friendly to neighbours can, over time, result in much stronger and more supportive communities. Therefore, this year our slogan is ‘Don't walk by, say Hi!’

ESB Chief Executive, Padraig McManus and Macra na Feirme President, Michael Gowing pictured with RTE Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan at the launch of Know Your Neighbour Weekend.

The event is sponsored by ESB and Chief Executive, Padraig McManus said “We at ESB are extremely proud of our association with Macra na Feirme and the fifth Know Your Neighbour Weekend.

“As our country and our communities face unprecedented challenges, it is important now more than ever to get active about knowing our neighbours.”

Macra na Feirme teamed up with The Wheel, the umbrella body for community and voluntary organisations with the intention of getting many more groups to participate in the ‘Know Your Neighbour’ initiative.

Information on ‘Know Your Neighbour’ is available at www.knowyourneighbour.ie.

ESBI website launched

Energy International, page 23

Business School Breakfast

At a recent Smurfit School of Business Breakfast (l-r): Laura Moynihan, UCD; Brid Horan, Executive Director ESB Energy Solutions; Lisa Browne, ESB Sponsorship, Eddie O’Brien; CEO Topaz and Guest Speaker and Tom Begley, Dean of Smurfit Business School. The event was held in Dublin and sponsored by ESB.