Freida Murray retires

Group HR and ESB in general said goodbye on Thursday, January 24th to Equal Opportunities Manager, Freida Murray. Freida has decided to call it a day and join her husband Danny in retirement. Both were there for a presentation in Head Office and were joined by their children Tony, Helen and Joan as well as their extended family.

Freida joined ESB in 1970, following her late father, Willie, who was an Area Supervisor in Portarlington. She was appointed to Dublin South District in the areas of Revenue, Trading, Cost & Management and Service Repair. In the early 70s Dublin South was a 'young district' with regular afterwork staff outings and Freida was a keen participant at any social event. It was during this time that Freida Shanahan met Danny Murray and in October 1974 they tied the knot.

Freida's last position in the Dublin Region was as a personnel officer. While in this role Freida was chosen to sit on the famous and much quoted, Redmond Review which examined equality in ESB and was chaired by Dr. Mary Redmond. This was a seminal piece of work and set the tone for much of the equality work that was to follow in ESB.

The Redmond Review recommended, among other things, the appointment of an ESB Equal Opportunities Manager and Valerie Little was the first appointee to that role. Valerie was succeeded firstly by Paul Ennis and then, in May 1995, by Freida, who was appointed by Lorcan Canning. Inside and outside of ESB, it is as Group Equal Opportunities Manager that Freida is most identified.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony Executive Director HR & Corporate Affairs, John Campion said that Freida had hugely progressed the case for equality in all its facets. "The way in which Freida carried the different elements of her role should not be underestimated and she always did it in an upfront and straight way, while retaining the necessary confidences and sensitivities," he said. "Her achievements and initiatives over her period in the Equal Opportunities Office are far too numerous to detail but range from putting in place policies and procedures, supports and codes of practices, to baby-feeding support facilities."

As well as being a key part of HR within ESB, Equal Opportunities is also a window through which people see into the company and Freida was always passionate about protecting and enhancing the image of ESB. She was instrumental in promoting an 'Equality and Diversity Network' involving a number of diverse large Irish companies. Freida has always been regarded as a leader in the field and the one to whom others regularly turn to for advice and help.

Freida sat on the Government Task Force on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying which was established by the Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Tom Kitt TD in 1999 and which had Dr Eileen Doyle as chairperson. Through her time in the role, Freida also became involved in equality work at a European level. She represented ESB on various European task forces and working groups. At her most recent presentation to the Board of ESB was in December last year, the Chairman warmly thanked Freida for all that she had achieved for the company during her career.

Freida made good and lasting friends in ESB and we all wish her well in her retirement. Freida and Danny plan to spend regular quality time in their holiday home in France but knowing Freida, she will continue to champion many causes in her retirement. Presentations were made to Freida at her retirement event by John Campion, by the chairperson of the Joint Equality Council, Dr Eileen Drew of TCD and by the Secretary of the ESB Group of Unions, Davy Naughton. We wish Freida, Danny and family all the best for the years ahead. Keep in touch Freida.