Council staff gather to mark retirement of long-serving colleague Marie Little

Marie Little was joined by members of her family as well as past and present colleagues for a celebration to mark her retirement from Donegal County Council. Photographer Thomas Gallagher was present to capture the event.

The function took place in the Public Services Centre in Donegal Town on Friday last. With around 50 people in attendance, it was clear that the Lifford native was a popular and highly respected colleague.

Donegal Municipal District (MD) Area Manager Pauric Sheerin spoke of the dedicated years of service that Marie had given the council and the public. He thanked Marie for her years of service and wished her and her family well for her retirement.

Marie was clearly moved by the turnout and good wishes from everyone present.

She said: “I want to thank everybody who organised this event for me. 

“I will miss everybody. I loved my time in Housing team and I really liked working with the people there. 

“There is a fabulous team here in Donegal Public Services Centre. I will miss it. I don’t know what I am going to do with myself!”

Cllrs Noel Jordan (SF) and Tom Conaghan (Ind) were among those present.

Cllr Jordan said: “I would like to thank Marie for her service. I found her very easy to work with. She did her job to the extreme. I wish her health and happiness in her retirement.”

Cllr Conaghan also praised Marie for her diligence.

“She was always very helpful,” he said. “I wish her all the best in her retirement.”

Service

Marie joined Donegal County Council on July 24, 1978 in the role of Clerk Typist in Planning where she worked along with Josephine Fullerton, Teresa Conway, Francie Coyle, Bernie Gallagher and Myrtle Quinn. Liam Kelly held the role of Administrative Officer at the time.  

On September 12, 1983, Marie was appointed as Clerical Officer to Accounts and remained there until 1987.

From 1987 to 1993 worked on Group Water Schemes.

Following that, she worked from 1993 to 2000 worked in Sanitary Services (Area Office) in Lifford.

On April 25, 2000, Marie moved to Donegal Town and worked in Sanitary Services along with Rosemary Kennedy (at that time Agresso was introduced). She remained in this position until she received promotion under BLG and in 2003 was the Ballyshannon Town Clerk.

From 2004 to 2006, Marie was the Office Manager for the Ballyshannon and Bundoran bypass.

She worked in the Donegal Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant from 2006 to 2008.

On September 1, 2008, Marie joined Housing, where she remained for the 15 years leading up to her retirement. During this period she would have witnessed a lot of changes in the day to day work of the department.