Updated: Wednesday, 14th July, 2010 4:38pm

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Tributes paid to departing town manager

by Noelle Finegan

Trim Town Council cathaoirleach Trevor Golden presents a vase to outgoing town manager Kevin Stewart, who takes over as Kells Town Manager.

Tributes were paid to outgoing town manager Kevin Stewart at his last meeting of Trim Town Council last week, before taking over his new role as Kells town manager.

With a career spanning 32 years in local government, Mr Stewart has been Trim Town Manager for just over five years. He will continue with his role of Meath County Council director of services for economic development and innovation. Tadgh McDonnell takes over from Mr Stewart as Trim town manager, and moves from Slane where he was area manager.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Trevor Golden led the tributes to Mr Stewart before a glass vase was presented to him as a memento of his time as Trim town manager.

"It was an absolute pleasure working with you over the last five years. You have been town manager all my time as a councillor and we worked on several projects. The town has benefited greatly and you have given great advice and stewardship," said Cllr Golden.

Cllr Vincent McHugh said he had worked a long time with Mr Stewart and that he was always fair, helpful in any way he could and that there was "no beating around the bush with him".

Cllr Ronan McKenna said it was the desire of every mother that their emigrant son comes home, and he was sure mother Kells would be welcoming Kevin Stewart home. He complimented Mr Stewart on his work in Ashbourne and said he had transformed the town.

"When that was done, you came to Trim and had a huge list of successes. No wonder Kells is so excited about getting you there and pushing forward their development plans. Our loss is their gain. We will all miss you around the table," said Cllr McKenna.

Cllr Gerry Reilly said he had been chairman when Mr Stewart first came to Trim and wished him good luck in his new role. Cllr Ray Butler said he knew Mr Stewart from Kells years ago and that his advice always had been brilliant over the past five years.

Cllr Phil Cantwell said Mr Stewart was always "very hardworking and capable" and that "Trim's loss is Kells's gain".

Mr Stewart said he had been working in local government for the past 32 years and that the past five years in Trim had been among the "most enjoyable and fulfilling" of his time in the public service. "Trim is a great town. I am embarrassed about some of the comments. Nothing can be achieved without teamwork and go-ahead councils who are not afraid to do the right thing, like in Trim," he said.

Mr Stewart thanked councillors past and present including Robbie Griffith, Jimmy Peppard, Caroline Ni Lionsaigh, Mags McGivern, Caroline Lynch, and especially Danny O'Brien who passed away suddenly in recent months.

"I've really enjoyed the last year with the current council. It has been a pleasure, One thing you all have in common is the willingness and desire to do the right thing for Trim," he added.

Mr Stewart thanked the three town clerks he had worked with during his time - Larry McEntee, Brendan Fulham and Brian Murphy - town engineers Mark Farrell, Gerry Lynn and Vincent Collins, all the staff and town foreman Tony Conlon.

He also thanked the various voluntary organisations working for the betterment of the town, including the Tidy Town Committee and the Chamber of Commerce.

"We have achieved a lot, collectively, over the last five years. The street reconstruction project, the sports and lesiure centre, the OPW headquarters, the draft feasibility study for the enterprise centre, and plans for CCTV and Watergate Street," said Mr Stewart, adding that his only regret was that the town centre project did not happen.