Tributes paid to Sheila Donnelly of Newpark FRC from city councillors in Kilkenny

Tributes to Newpark Close Family Resource Centre Manager Sheila Donnelly flowed from elected officials at this month’s meeting of Kilkenny City Municipal District.

This month’s meeting was held in Newpark Close FRC to highlight the work of Donnelly, who formally retired from her managerial position last Friday.

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Sheila has managed the Newpark Close FRC since 2003, and in those two decades she has overseen its conversion from a prefab with a hole in the roof to one of Kilkenny’s finest family resource centres.

Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr Joe Malone, originally made the suggestion to hold the meeting at the centre and he thanked all the staff at the centre for making it possible.

He then opened the floor to fellow elected members to make their own comments.

Cllr Andrew McGuinness said that he has known Sheila since he was a child and that when he got into politics, she was one of the first people he contacted.

“So many people have so much respect for Sheila and look up to her as a role model and she has left an indelible mark on Kilkenny,” he added.

“Sheila leaves a huge legacy and has made a positive difference to the lives of everyone around here.”

Cllr Martin Brett remarked that a lot of people haven’t had the privilege of seeing Sheila ‘in operation operating on their behalf’, complimenting her ‘drive, enthusiasm and infectious personality’.

“Maybe at some stage they should name this place after you,” he added.

Cllr David Fitzgerald said that he has always been ‘so warmly welcomed’ by Sheila and her team at Newpark FRC.

“Everyone is welcome here no matter their story, showing the importance of community,” he added.

“There was a time when this community was considered to be a deprived community and life was difficult.

“Sheila, your legacy is in people, through your support and positivity.”

Cllr Maria Dollard said that she knew of Sheila for many years before physically meeting her.

“Your reputation was such that you were always talked about as someone that got things done in the world of adult community education,” she said.

“You’ve sown a seed in this community and you can look back with pride.”

Cllr Eugene McGuinness, in paying tribute to Sheila, expressed how he had an empathetic understanding of the challenges faced by the Newpark community, being from a similar background.

“I understand, coming from Assumption, lots of us had no arse in our trousers but there was and is fantastic community spirit,” he said.

“You are an example of what you can do when you stand together,” he added.

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“Newpark Close FRC is a shining example of how things can be done properly.”

Sheila has lived in Newpark Close for 47 years and learned how to drive at the age of 47 so that she could travel up and down to Maynooth College to get a degree in Youth and Community.

From then on, Sheila has pushed many doors open for the people of Newpark Close with the development of the preschool, creche facilities, a the family resource centre, education, after school programme, a men’s shed and the Newpark soccer pitch.

Sheila and her granddaughter Ebony Masuku have also both won The Kilkenny People ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award.