Page 30 - Ei Christmas Magazine 2025

30
Retirements
Catherine Coughlan retired as HR Manager on
29th August this year.
Catherine first communicated her intention to retire
at Christmas 2024 but with Mick Guinee planning
to step down as CEO in March, she held off on the
announcement until the end of April.
Catherine joined Ei as HR and Payroll Manager on
15th June 2011. When she joined there were less
than 300 employees, so in her time she has seen the
Company grow enormously and Catherine would
have hired the vast majority of today’s workforce.
Catherine has been a lynchpin of Ei for the past 14
years. Her recruitment has seen the workforce grow
to 1,000 and she has single-handedly overseen the
payroll, without error, in that time! Her dual role
in HR and Payroll was very demanding, and we
all know the long hours that she put in, frequently
bringing work home and working over weekends.
Catherine very much epitomized the culture of Ei
and no matter how busy she was, her ‘door was
always open’. As a trained Counsellor, Catherine
was well qualified to counsel employees and
countless benefitted from her advice.
The Covid-19 epidemic of 2020-2022 was a
challenging time in the factory. Catherine played
a key role, as we worked safely through that time.
Sports & Social is an essential part of the culture
of Ei and Catherine excelled in organizing a huge
range of events----from bowling, couch to 5k runs,
charity events, to major events like the Family
Sports Day, BBQ, Gala Night and the fun days
in-house for Halloween, St Patrick’s Day etc.,
etc.. She was a keen, but ‘noisy’ supporter of all
Ei teams, and none more so than the Hurling All
Ireland Inter-Company win of 2014.
Catherine was very much central to the culture
and essential to excellent employee relations.
Outside of work, her family were her priority
and in fact her decision to retire right now was
influenced by her husband, Pat, also retiring
this year and her grandchildren returning from
Australia. Although brought up in Cork and having
‘Corkie’ as a nickname, Catherine is a vociferous
Banner supporter!
Always a busy lady, Catherine will have no
difficulty filling her time. She has already run
6 marathons and with the recent acquisition of
a sports bike and the resumption of swimming
lessons, we reckon a Triathlon is on the agenda!
Catherine’s family were present at her retirement
presentation.
We wish Catherine a long, healthy and happy
and retirement.
Catherine Coughlan
Catherine clocks out
for the last time
Catherine with her colleagues at Dromolond
on her retirement night out
Catherine in her office
on her last day
Dolores, Jackie, Deirdre, Mary, Margaret & Mary
presents Catherine with some extra gifts
Huge hugs for Nana Catherine
Catherine receives a bouquet
of flowers
Mick presents Catherine with her
Ei ‘This is your Life’ book
Leo, Mick, Jim & David present Catherine with a scenic painting
on the occasion of her retirement
Catherine’s Retirement Gifts
Jim presents Catherine
with a lamp
Catherine receives jewelery
from David
Catherine with her lovely family on her retirement day