John McGinley retires

After over 40 years of service in ESB, John McGinley has called it a day. A warm welcome was extended to John, his wife Mary, and sons Conor, Cian and Ronan by Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, at a function held in Doheny & Nesbitts where John's colleagues and friends gathered to bid farewell. A native of Donegal, John has adopted Kildare as his home and been well and truly accepted as an honorary lily white after many years of residing in Maynooth.

John joined ESB in October 1965 as an apprentice electrician in Sligo district and moved throughout the district working on the networks. Out of over 100 apprenticeships John was selected to do the Engineering Technician's course. He was appointed to Head Office in the early 70's where he worked in the Distribution and Asset Management area.

He worked fulltime on 'job evaluation' for a period and carried out some consultancy work with Rory O'Donnell. John has a long association with the ESBOA and particularly with David Begg, both being active and prominent members. He held a number of offices in the OA including Union Treasurer and Union Vice President.

In the 1980's John was part of ESB's move abroad and he was one of the first ESB employees to go to Saudi Arabia. He returned to Saudi in 1987 to work in Jubail, a new city being built from scratch by the Saudis.

John's father was a Fianna Fail supporter and it is said he was not impressed with John's move to join the Labour Party! 1993 marked a new phase for John when he was elected Labour County Councillor in Kildare. He became Mayor of County Kildare for 2005-6.

In 1995 John was nominated by his Union and elected by ESB employees to serve as a Worker Board Member. He served 12 years on the Board and brought to his role the same professionalism and good judgement that has marked his career in ESB. He asked the searching questions and always stood up for his constituency, but in a way which supported the overall interests of ESB.

John McGinley has given long, dedicated service and quiet professionalism to ESB. He is held in high regard and we wish him and his family well into the future.