Eileen Lanigan retired from Kilkenny Fire & Rescue Service administration section on Saturday 29th June after over 41 years of service.
She began her career in April 1983 as a telephone operator in Kilkenny City Fire Station. Capt. Hugh Corrigan was the Chief Fire Officer at this time. She was responsible for answering all emergency calls for the whole of County Kilkenny and beyond. Emergency calls comprised of property fires, road traffic incidents, oil spillages and other special services. She would then have to alert the appropriate fire brigade, whether it be Kilkenny City, Castlecomer, Freshford, Urlingford, Thomastown, Callan or Graiguenamanagh, record all data and carry out radio control until the incident was finished. Workload increased dramatically over the years and in 2006 the Kilkenny Control Centre was taken over by Eastern Regional Control Centre in Dublin. Eileen was then responsible for the payroll of all 70 approx. firefighters in County Kilkenny which she carried out with dignity, confidentiality and expertise. She also carried out a lot of other general office duties over the years. She served under three chief fire officers in her time, namely Capt. Hugh Corrigan, Ciaran Cormican and John Collins, the current chief fire officer.
Although retired from the fire service Eileen will not be sitting still. She has started up her own business, Lanigan Training & Office Services, helping out businesses and people with office and secretarial duties. Eileen was wished well in her retirement by all in the fire service and beyond. We would also like to wish her many years of health and happiness.
