Carrick-on-Suir Library manager's retirement marked by planting of apple tree

Pictured above: Retiring Carrick Library Manager Carol Delany (front centre with flowers) with Tipperary Library Service colleagues past and present in the garden of Carrick Library with the apple tree planted in the foreground (right). From left: Mairead Lyons, Sandra English, Pat Glavin, Jacinta Murray, Tim O’Regan, Anne Marie Mullins, Pat Bracken, Carol Delany, Emma Collins, Tipperary County Librarian Damien Dullaghan, Yulia Pak, Ann Marie Brophy, Mary Guinan-Darmody and Gemma Larkin. Photo Anne Marie Magorrian

Colleagues past and present, artists and library users gathered at Carrick-on-Suir’s Seán Healy Memorial Library on June 21 to bid farewell to its popular and highly respected manager Carol Delany.

Ms Delany, who worked at Carrick-on-Suir Library, since 2012 has taken early retirement and a celebration took place on her final day at work to honour her huge contribution to Tipperary Library Service during her career.

Her retirement from the Library Service was marked by the planting of an apple tree in Carrick Library's biodiversity garden.

All guests at the celebration spoke with the highest respect for Carol and how her diligence, patience and friendly, kind manner helped make Carrick Library a vibrant and welcoming centre for everyone in the community.

County Librarian Damien Dullaghan spoke about Carol’s library career which started in Clonmel in 2006.

He described Carol as ‘conscientious and very good at every aspect of her job’ and a superb manager.

Mr Dullaghan praised Carol for bringing about so many changes inside and outside Carrick Library and pointed to how the keen gardener and nature lover established a beautiful wild flower, fruit tree and herb area in the library grounds bringing in local schools to help.

He also spoke of her ‘immense character’ and how ‘she was never one to shy away from a problem or from making herself heard’.

He recalled that during her time at Carrick Library, the interior of the building was given a complete makeover.

“May her retirement be as full and as fruitful as her working career,” said Mr Dullaghan.

“Thank you for your dedicated service Carol and wishing you many years of health and happiness to you and your family,” he added.

Carol thanked everyone for coming out to wish her well.

She said it was all about the people and the loyal and dedicated colleagues she worked along with and people she met everyday who she said were fabulous and always truly supportive.

Carol praised and thanked artist and photographer Margueritte Kent who collaborated and helped with many projects inside and outside Carrick Library during her years working there. She thanked artist Sheila Woods for her beautiful artistic contributions over the years.

She also spoke highly of Linda Fahy of the Tudor Artisan Hub, who was outstanding and always an entry point to introducing a talented group of artists to the library.

And she thanked writer Margaret O’Brien for her wonderful help and support

She said they contributed to many of the brilliant events that took place there and also helped out with groups and clubs.
Carol, who loves travelling, mountain walking and singing with the Belle Voci Choir in Clonmel, was wished a happy retirement by her library colleagues and the many artists and library club and group members, her good friends and the wider community in Carrick-on-Suir.

Retirement gifts and flowers were presented to Carol and she was wished good health to enjoy the adventures ahead of her in retirement.

Library staff and users look forward to welcoming Carol back to future events at Carrick Library.

Picture below Carrick Library Knitting Group members Rose Sexton, Gladys Ronan and Martina Coady with Carol Delany (second from right). Picture Anne Marie Magorrian