The end of the year signifies the end of an era at IT Sligo, with the reign of the Institute’s Governing Body Chairman, Cllr Joe Queenan, coming to a finish.
Cllr Queenan was has been Chairman of the IT Sligo Governing Body since 2002, when he was nominated to the position by the then Minister for Education and Science, Noel Dempsey TD.
He was a member of the Governing Body since 1999 and was nominated to the position of Chair upon the election of the previous Chair, Dr Jimmy Devins, to Dáil Eireann.
Cllr Queenan was honoured at the last meeting of the Governing Body, and he paid tribute to the staff and students he has worked with at the Institute over the past eight and a half years.
“It has been an absolute honour and pleasure to serve as Chair on the IT Sligo Governing Body. I haven’t missed one meeting in the last eight and a half years and I enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.
Cllr Queenan paid tribute to all the staff and students he has worked with during his reign, along with the members of the three Governing Bodies he served alongside.
“I want to thank all the staff and students, all the heads of schools, heads of departments, administration staff and student leaders, for their support and assistance. In particular I want to thank the three presidents I worked with, Dr Brendan MacConamhna, Dr Richard Thorn and Professor Terri Scott, and the Financial Controller, John Cosgrove.”
“I found the Institute an enormously positive place to visit down the years and every person I met and worked with through my role on the Governing Body were entirely committed and focused on serving the best interests of the Institute and the wider region.”
“I have witnessed enormous changes in the Institute down the years and its role in the development of the wider North West region has been critical. With a €12 million investment at the campus this year, and more than €50 million in the past 10 years, I am very confident about the role of the Institute into the future.”
Paying tribute to the outgoing Chairman, President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott said: “IT Sligo is very grateful to Cllr Queenan for the commitment in serving the Governing Body as Chair since 2002. He has chaired the Body during a time of great change and his interest and contribution to promoting IT Sligo in the region has been of great benefit to the staff and students. On behalf of current and former staff of the institute I would like to thank him for his very significant contribution.”
President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott; Outgoing Chair of the IT Sligo Governing Body, Cllr Joe Queenan; Financial Controller, John Cosgrove; Registrar, Brendan McCormack.
George Leetch, Students Union Vice President and Welfare Officer; Outgoing Chair of the IT Sligo Governing Body, Cllr Joe Queenan; Breffni O’Gorman, Student Union President.