Gerry Smyth – 50 years and growing

The greatest comeback since Lazarus is how Gerry Smyth describes his return to ESB. Following his departure in 2000, Gerry took up a position in the property portfolio with ESB Telecoms Ltd.

Gerry originally joined ESB in May 1955 in the administration area of Revenue Division in the
Accounts Department. Also starting the same day
were Harry Gissane, Tony Kelly, Pat Ryan, Seamus
O’Donohoe, Barry Ormond and Jack Wyley – an
entirely ‘male ship’. The working atmosphere at the
time could best be described as ‘austere’, says
Gerry.

Typical of circulars that issued at the time was one
from the Chief Accountant stipulating that ‘during
working hours it was not permissible to leave one’s
desk for the purpose of brewing tea.’ Milk, which
did not require preparation, could be consumed. But of course rules could be circumvented and Gerry tells us that there were some brave souls who did just that.

The most significant change on the administration side of ESB during this period was the recruitment of female executive officers in the late 60s. As a result, a number of ‘Victorian’ practices were banished for ever, according to Gerry.

In Prop & Facls, Gerry was Section Head and
subsequently Property Specialist under Brendan
Donohue and then Dave Cussen. Among his
colleagues were Paddy Smith, Sean Roche, Tim
Mooney, George O’Driscoll, Annemarie Mulcahy and Martin Lynch.

The most significant change in the company in
his unbelievable 52 year working career was the
introduction of technology, in particular computers.
When Gerry returned to ESB Telecoms following his
official retirement in 2000 he found himself very
much in a new era of technology and it was a
particularly happy and fulfilling experience.

“Being part of a team whose function is the provision of infrastructure for mobile phone companies in a business where the customer is king,” he says. He is very complimentary of the team, initially under Pat Boyle and subsequently Niall Hogan.

The job brought him in contact with the various
other business lines where he had extensive dealings with Annemarie Mulcahy, Derek Mealia and Martin Lynch of Estates Management, Ray
O’Donnell of ESB Networks and Sarah Phelan and the staff in Legal Services.

He feels blessed to have had the opportunity to enjoy an extended working life in ESB with wonderful colleagues and friends and will be enjoying a much needed break in Canada as we go to press.