Enterprising Evelyn retires after 40 years with Laois council

WARM tributes have been paid to a remarkable public servant who was the driving force behind business development in Laois for many years.

After a 40-year career with Laois Co Council, Evelyn Reddin will retire this Friday as Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Laois (LEO), which is based at county hall in Portlaoise.

A powerhouse in the LEO that was established in 2014, Ms Reddin was renowned for promoting and supporting both new and established businesses across the county, with special responsibility for economic development and tourism.

A mother-of-two from Raheen, she worked in a variety of roles with Laois Co Council before her appointment as Head of Enterprise. She is also a director of the Portlaoise Innovation Centre and Portlaoise Enterprise Centre.

At the December meeting of Laois Co Council, chief executive Michael Rainey led tributes as he said: “We have been very lucky to have Evelyn as a very loyal servant, both to Laois Co Council and to the business community in this county and I wish her well in her retirement. I want to thank her for her commitment to supporting enterprise and business in this county.” 

Also wishing her well in her retirement, cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh said: “Evelyn has done an awful lot of work for enterprise and economic development in this county, but she has also had a major input in tourism as well.” 

Describing Ms Reddin as “a lovely lady with a lot of knowledge”, Cllr John King said that she did great work for the council and for the development of small businesses during a very successful career.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly recalled that he and Ms Reddin were on the old County Enterprise Board when he joined the council in 1999. He said: “Evelyn was a great help to me over the years and her knowledge is second to none. She will certainly be missed.” 

The former County Enterprise Boards were abolished under a 2012 employment action plan and were replaced nationwide by LEOs, which were established within the local authorities.

Ms Reddin was responsible for implementing the changeover in Laois, with the brief of delivering ‘an enhanced, expanded and more integrated support service’ for micro and small businesses in the county.

The office also worked to promote enterprise and economic development, stimulating the creation of 777 LEO-supported jobs since April 2014.

In one of many tributes from the local business community, Portlaoise Enterprise Centre coordinator Patricia Frayne said: ‘On behalf of everyone at Portlaoise Enterprise Centre, I would like to extend our best wishes to Evelyn on her retirement.

‘Evelyn has served as a director of Portlaoise Enterprise Centre for over ten years, during which time she made a significant contribution to the development of the centre through her consistent leadership, sound judgment and genuine dedication.

'She was also highly supportive of our client businesses through her role as Head of Enterprise in the Laois Local Enterprise Office.

'We will miss Evelyn’s valuable contributions to our board meetings and wish her all the best for a happy and well-earned retirement.'