*Derek Troy in action for O’Currys. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
QUERRIN NATIVE Derek Troy received plenty of plaudits when attending his final meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District.
After fifteen months as acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe MD, Derek will be leaving the post to take up a new role with Galway County Council where he will work out of the Athenry area office.
In the current Council term (2019-2024), he becomes the third senior engineer to leave the Killaloe MD, Tom Mellett moved on to the equivalent role in the Shannon Municipal District while his predecessor Niamh Madden transferred to the housing section of the local authority.
A Bachelor of Engineering graduate from University College Dublin, Derek also holds a masters in environmental science from Atlantic Technological University. Well known in gaelic football circles, he has played at all levels for his club O’Currys including when the Peninsula outfit were competing in the Clare SFC when he was then an outfield player, he will be lining out between the posts when Dinny McMahon’s charges begin their bid for honours in Group 1 of the Clare IFC.
Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) acknowledged at the sitting in Scariff that it was Derek’s final meeting with them. “I would like to acknowledge his contribution to the Municipal District over the last few years, I would like to thank you personally and on behalf of the Municipal District for the help and contribution to us. I wish you the very best, I am sorry you are going because you always went above and beyond the call, you were always available on the phone day and night, thanks for what you have done”.
Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) said Derek was “a pleasure to work with. He came out and met communities or individuals whenever he was asked. You have achieved a lot in your short time with us. I am disappointed to see you go, you might be back to us if we’re around long enough”.
Galway will be benefitting from the addition of the West Clare man, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) maintained. “Our loss is somebody’s else gain, I hate to see people leaving when they are only getting into it but it is an individual decision” and added that the “common sense approach” of the engineer was always clear.
Hayes used the opportunity to urge Clare County Council to consider their process of appointments and was critical of the fact that their area engineer was left with the title of ‘acting’ for over a year. “We need to be making people permanent, people like Derek don’t come every day, it is hugely disappointing he is leaving and I mean that, we wish him well up the road and really hope he does make his way back to Clare County Council”.
When adding his best wishes on the move to Galway County Council, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) remarked, “they have a few hedge cutters of their own up there you’ll be delighted to hear, if there’s a few spare you might send them down”.
Gratitude was also voiced by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) who praised the official for his constant help and assistance.
Padraig Mac Cormaic who is the acting senior executive officer in the Council’s housing department and was deputising for Director of Services, Anne Haugh at the meeting paid tribute to his colleague. “I worked with him here and in West Clare, his contribution in both places has been fabulous”.
Addressing the comments from Cllr Hayes, Mac Cormaic said it was common for people to move on and look for promotions. “There is movement from Clare to Limerick and Galway but people do come back,” he flagged.
Senior planned and Killaloe MD coordinator, Brian McCarthy told the meeting that Derek was leaving Clare County Council after twenty three years in roles including West Clare and the roads section. “His attendance here is testament to his dedication, he was supposed to finish up a few weeks ago but agreed to stay on to deal with issues at this meeting”.
McCarthy continued, “the role of the senior executive engineer in a Municipal District like Killaloe is such a varied one but requires a skillset from engineering and technical side but requires someone with Derek’s personality to find solutions”. He thanked Derek for “being an outstanding colleague to me and to colleagues in outdoor office”.
Responding to the well-wishes, Troy advised Cllr O’Brien that he was only in the Killaloe MD since last April and not years even though “it may have seemed longer”. He added, “everyone was an absolute pleasure to work with, there is a great team with the councillors and the executive, I am only moving up the road by a small distance but I will still be available on the phone if you ever need me”.
