Tributes as 'too nice' Laois engineer retires
Senior executive engineer Philip McVeigh received warm tributes on his retirement from Laois County Council
WARM tributes have been paid to a popular senior engineer on his retirement from Laois County Council.
News of the departure of Philip McVeigh, who was area engineer for the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District, caused great surprise and regret at the district’s monthly meeting on 16 April.
Officials and elected members described Mr McVeigh as “an absolute gentleman” who quietly did an excellent job, with one councillor commenting that he was “probably too nice at times”.
Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said Mr McVeigh “ran a great ship” and was very approachable, adding: “I wish him the very best of luck on his retirement. It is a bit of a shock to us all.”
In addition to his council career, Mr McVeigh was involved in a variety of organisations and boards of management, including the board of Portarlington Enterprise Centre. He was not present at the district meeting, which was attended by his colleague and successor as area engineer, Tom Drennan.
Deputy district cathaoirleach Vivienne Phelan, who was standing in for cathaoirleach Cllr Aidan Mullins, wished Mr McVeigh well and said she had really enjoyed working with him. She also wished Mr Drennan the very best in his new role.
Describing Mr McVeigh as an excellent engineer, who had achieved great work during his time on the council, Cllr Paschal McEvoy commented: “He was an absolute gentleman, a very, very nice individual - probably too nice at times!”
Cllr Pádraig Fleming said Mr McVeigh was a very quiet, kind and gentle man who knew his job inside out, as he wished him happiness and good health in his retirement.
Cllr Ben Brennan said he was “actually shocked” to hear the news, as he described Mr McVeigh as incredibly dedicated and “probably the brainiest man I ever came across”.
Cllr Brennan recalled that the engineer made an exceptional effort to resolve dreadful flooding at a house in Graiguecullen. He took his time, did things his own way and the house was never flooded again. Cllr Brennan said the resident told him that, every time it rains, he prays for Mr McVeigh.
Cllr Brennan added that Mr McVeigh was a gentleman to work with, as was his colleague Kevin Hogan.
On his first meeting as area engineer, Mr Drennan expressed his own best wishes to Mr McVeigh and observed: “There is no doubt he will be missed in the area and in the council as well.”
Acting director of finance Julie Bergin also paid tribute to Mr McVeigh and welcomed Mr Drennan, as she said: “I am sure he will slot into the role with great ease.”
A Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, Mr McVeigh had extensive experience in Ireland and the UK and was a senior executive engineer with Laois County Council for more than 20 years. He is a chartered member of Engineers Ireland, the UK Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Water and Environmental Management.
