Centenarian Jack feted by former bank colleagues

JACK Hedigan recently celebrated his 100th birthday in Clonakilty and former AIB colleagues gathered in the branch in Clonakilty to mark this great milestone event.

A native of Churchtown in North Cork, Jack began his banking career with the Munster & Leinster Bank in Millstreet in May 1939, where he remained for nine years. He moved in 1948 to the Munster & Leinster head office in South Mall, Cork, before returning to branch banking in 1949 when he worked for short periods in Dunmanway, Skerries and Thurles.

In those days, it took considerable time to become permanent staff, and it wasn’t until 1949, ten years after starting as a new entrant, that Jack was made permanent. He was transferred to Newcastlewest in March 1951 and was promoted to cashier in 1955, a full 16 years after joining; these days, the role of cashier is one of the first jobs a new entrant will undertake.

Jack was promoted to assistant manager in Nenagh in December 1965, but spent less than two years there before attaining a branch manager position in Clonakilty in 1967. He remained in Clonakilty for 15 years, overseeing the transition from Munster & Leinster Bank to AIB, until he retired in 1982.

On October 25th, two days after his birthday, the Clonakilty branch presented Jack with a cake and a framed print, charting all the branch managers of Clonakilty back to 1903 when it first opened for business. Friends and former colleagues recounted stories of times past, and local market leader of AIB Cork County, John O’Doherty, was on hand to make the presentation to Jack. Jack’s three daughters, Norma, Miriam, and Geraldine also attended the event.

Jack Hedigan is great inspiration to all those who know him. His energy, active mind and strong faith have undoubtedly kept him young, and have enabled him to keep driving and gardening at the ripe old age of 100.