It’s 22 years since Met Life (an American heath insurer) closed its facility in Fermoy. Based in Mill Island, the company’s decision to locate in Fermoy was a huge boost for the local economy. Regarded as an excellent employer, the firm recruited from the town and surrounding areas.
Divided into four work groups (Western, Eastern, Pacific & Mid West) employees formed close bonds and two decades since its closure, ‘Met Lifers’ are still in regular contact.
Their most recent reunion took place in Billy Murphy’s Bar (The Elbow Lane Inn) on Friday night last.
Billy, whose establishment played an important role in the social life of Met Life employees, said it was great to see so many faces from the old days.
“Met Life was a young and vibrant workforce, they worked hard and had a great social life – they were good times,” Billy recalled at last weekend’s get-together, a point echoed by former Met Life employee, Ken Barry.
“At its peak, Met Life employed 150 and was a very significant employer in Fermoy. For many, it was their first real job and it was a very exciting place to work. It’s testament to the friendships that were formed that 22 years on, we can still have nights like this,” Ken told The Avondhu.
