Shock as Laois County Council Senior Executive Engineer retires 

Tributes were paid to Senior Executive Engineer, Philip McVeigh, on his retirement from Laois County Council. 

Mr McVeigh had responsibility for the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District and its Councillors expressed shock and wished him well on his retirement from the council. Area Engineer Tom Drennan is taking up the role held by Mr McVeigh. 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan was standing in as Cathaoirleach for Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins during the April meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. She wished Mr McVeigh well and said she had really enjoyed working with him.   

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said Mr McVeigh was very approachable and “ran a great ship” at the council. “I wish him the very best of luck on his retirement. It is a bit of a shock to us all,” she remarked. 

“I would like to wish you Tom the very best in your new role,” she added. 

Mr Drennan said he wanted to express his own best wishes to Mr McVeigh.  “There is no doubt he will be missed in the area and the council as well,” said Mr Drennan.  

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy described Mr McVeigh as an excellent engineer for Laois. “He was an absolute gentleman, a very, very nice individual, probably too nice at times,” he said. 

Cllr McEvoy said Mr McVeigh had achieved great work in his time at the council. He said members of the municipal district would now work well with Mr Drennan. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming said “he was a very quiet man but equally he knew his job inside and out.” 

“He was a kind and gentle man. He tried to resolve and did resolve any issues with Kevin as well…I wish him well in his retirement and good health in particular,” said Mr Fleming. He said he  looked forward to working with Mr Drennan. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan said “I am actually shocked that he is gone so quick.” 

“To me, he is probably was the brainiest man I ever came across,” said Cllr Brennan. 

He  said “there was no problem a big problem” and he recalled one constituent who had an issue of flooding at his house near a bridge in Graiguecullen.   

Cllr Brennan said Mr McVeigh arranged for work at the bridge and the problem was resolved. “The man in that house said that every time it rains I pray for that man(Mr McVeigh),” he recalled. 

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He said Mr McVeigh was a gentleman to work with as is Kevin Hogan who worked with him. 

Acting Director of Finance Julie Bergin also paid tribute to Mr McVeigh. “I would just like to be associated with all the well wishes,” she said. 

Ms Bergin said Mr McVeigh was very quiet but that he had followed up on everything he was asked to do and she wished him the best. She welcomed Mr Drennan and said “I am sure he will slot into the role with great ease.” 

Mr McVeigh wasn't present during the April meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.