Des Sharkey - 50 Golden Years

March 1957 -

• Rome Treaty established the Common Market
• Sputnick was launched by the Russians
• Federal troops forced integration of schools in Little Rock AK
• All Shook Up by Elvis Presley and Love Letters in the Sand by Perry Como dominated the airwaves
• The Ten Commandments was the most popular movie
• Bridge over the River Kwai won three Academy Awards
• Peyton Place was number two in the Best Seller's list
• and Des Sharkey started his first job as a messenger with ESB!

11th March 1957 was the date to be precise and it is here that Des remained until 50 years and 19 days later when he decided to retire on March 30th! And, not let it be said, without a great feeling of sadness as he emotionally told EM, "I feel that I've left a family and I know now how the emigrants leaving Ireland must have felt many years ago, knowing they would never return. I have worked with some of the best people in the world," he said.

On that day back in 1957, Des joined the team in the Revenue area (or the 'Sweat Shop') as they fondly referred to it! "The big meter books would come in and had to be calculated with a pencil and paper."

Des remembers being reprimanded for delivering the paperwork two minutes late on one occasion and 'holding up the whole billing system'!

Having survived 18 months in Revenue Des moved to the more 'interesting' area of Personnel where part of his job was to file documentation in the personal files of ESB's staff. Des became very familiar with the red and green folders and the little pink B/F slips. He greets the suggestion that he might have taken the 'odd peak' at the contents inside with a laugh and says "Sure we operated under Des Sharkey - 50 Golden Years the official secrets act !"

In those years most staff coming into senior positions had two or three honours in the Leaving Cert. but no degrees. "Degrees were things you did at night," he laughs. Not studying too much himself, Des was more interested in enjoying himself having got involved in competitive motor cycling, scrambles etc. Helped a guy repairing bikes in his garage, Des started welding and opted for Bolton St. and later the Tech. in Dundrum to study after work.

Following trade union negotiations a group known as 'Departmental Assistants' was formed - 'the lowest form of clerical life', jokes Des, "and I was on the ladder up!"

Des moved to Distribution under Paddy Healy and the work became very interesting bringing him into the computer world now sweeping the company.

Continuing his studies, Des qualified as a T/A in 1974, encouraged by his brother David who had studied and obtained a degree in Canada (previously having been an electrician with ESB). Finally Des cracked the 'glass ceiling' and obtained a position in System Ops.

A short stint in Generation gave him an opportunity to use the mechanical theory he had studied for but he then returned to System Ops. where his job brought him into programming and installation of computer terminals around the country.

His first installation was in Poolbeg - where he cycled with £6k of equipment on the carrier! The era of slide rules was gone forever - now a small job that could take two days was completed in minutes! Other than a short period in Telecoms, Des has remained in the IT area since.

As well as biking, Des took up scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing. Recuperating from a knee injury he met his wife Joan through her brother Bernard Ussher (a former ESB colleague also). Not impressed with his lack of communication to her brother when he went abroad, Joan found herself having to drive him home from a social outing where he obviously found his way back into her good books as they have since enjoyed 30 years of married bliss.

"I sold the motor bike to buy the engagement ring and I sold a BMW to buy the house so I was back on the bike from there!" Des and Joan have two sons - Colm and Cillian and with a keen interest in wood work and metal work he expects to be busy. The pre-retirement course ran by Mick Wren in Shared Services has armed him with lots of helpful information and Des recommends it to anyone thinking of retiring.

"I have met some amazing people. I am proud to have worked with ESB - no money would buy the loyalty and dedication of staff during storms and crisis and throughout my 50 odd years I have made great friends and acquaintances."

Des, we wish you the best. Keep in touch. The heartfelt good wishes at your retirement presentation reflected the feelings of your colleagues and friends. A well earned retirement after a wonderful working career - may all your years be golden.