Almost 50 years of service to County Limerick hospital celebrated with retirement

A WOMAN from Patrickswell who dedicated 49 years of her life to service in the HSE has retired. 

Kathleen Dineen started in Croom Orthopaedic Hospital in 1976. 

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As part of the hygiene staff, she worked on the wards for 17 years and worked in theatre as a theatre technician for 19 years.

She said when she was working “I would have talked to a lot of patients, asked them how they were and had a bit of a chat, I loved it. I always asked where they came from and what they were in for, it was very rewarding.”

Ms Dineen worked with Nora Guiney for 14 years. 

Ms Guiney said: “She was brilliant at her job. She was very particular and myself and Kathleen got on like a house on fire. She got on so well with everyone. 

“She is absolutely a lady, everyone loved her and she worked right up until she walked out the door on her last day,” Ms Guiney continued. 

               Nora Guiney pictured with Kathleen Dineen

As part of the hygiene staff in theatre, Ms Dineen said that hygiene plays a critical role in a clinical setting. 

“It's very important in theatre,” she stressed. 

Speaking of working with Nora Guiney for over a decade, Ms Dineen said: “We worked well together. We were always there for each other. 

“We both went from being multi-task attendants to theatre technicians. 

“The consultants and doctors were very good to us - if we needed anything they would be there for us,” Ms Dineen said.

Speaking about her time in Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, Ms Dineen said: “It was very good, I enjoyed my time there and worked all over the hospital.”

Ms Dineen was honoured by her work colleagues on the occasion of her retirement and will be missed greatly by all who worked with her. 

Her colleagues said she was well-loved and had a strong work ethic. 

Looking ahead to what retirement holds after a busy life of work, Ms Dineen said that she hopes to do a bit of travelling and spend more time with friends. 

Ms Dineen also featured as one of the faces of Limerick, a long-term and ongoing project by Cormac Byrne where he photographs people from Limerick, who are well-known or have a deep connection to Limerick.