Members of the Ferbane Belmont CE Scheme Committee pictured with Colm Keegan on the occasion of his retirement. Back row, from left: Joe Grennan, Fr Peter Burke, Frank Kearns. Front row, from left: Joe Molloy, Mary Nally, Colm Keegan, Mona Caulfield.

Taoiseach's letter of thanks to Ferbane native on his retirement

Kevin O'Neill

Published: Fri 13 Nov 2026, 6:12 PM

A framed letter of best wishes from An Taoiseach Micheál Martin marked the recent retirement of the long-serving supervisor of the Ferbane-Belmont Community Employment (CE) Scheme, Colm Keegan.

The letter was presented to Colm on his final official day in the role by colleagues at the CE Scheme.

A native of Ferbane, Colm took huge pride in the work of the scheme, as it took responsibility for, among other things, for helping to maintain local churches, GAA grounds, the town itself, and various other nearby areas.

Now living in Roscommon, Colm celebrated the occasion in the company of two of his three sons, Colm Jnr and Philip. His other son, Darren, has been living and working in Asia for the past five years.

Colm Keegan, centre, is pictured alongside sons Colm Jnr and Philip on the day of his retirement as supervisor of the Ferbane Belmont CE Scheme.

Members of the local Community Employment Scheme committee and parish priest Fr Peter Burke also joined in the celebration to mark his retirement on his 66th birthday.

In the letter from Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Colm was encouraged to enjoy his retirement and to savour some of his most loved hobbies, which include maintaining his own gardens and travelling around Ireland in his camper van.