Cairde Credit Union Ltd was honoured with a Waterford Mayoral reception on Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 in recognition of sixty years of service to the local community.
The occasion, proposed by Cllr Danien Geoghegan and hosted by cathaoirleach of the Dungarvan/Lismore District Council, Cllr Niamh O’Donovan, took place in the Council Chamber in the Civic Offices, Dungarvan and was attended by Cllrs Thomas Phelan and Kate O’Mahoney from the Dungarvan/Lismore Municipal District.
The full current Board of Directors and Board Oversight Committee attended on behalf of Cairde Credit Union Ltd and were accompanied by a number of volunteers and staff.
In her address, cathaoirleach, Niamh O’Donovan, recounted the history of the credit union movement at a local level, paying tribute to the tireless efforts of all previous and current volunteers from all areas of the county of Waterford.
Particular mention was made of the founding members who started Dungarvan Credit Union Ltd, as it was known then, in 1964. Cllr Geoghegan supported comments and added that all those present should be extremely proud of their achievements in bringing the credit union to its current position as a leading provider of financial services in Tallow, Lismore, Cappoquin, Dungarvan, Kilmacthomas and beyond.
Cllrs Phelan and O’Mahoney joined in the tributes and spoke admirably of the major strides made by Cairde Credit Union Ltd since its inception. The human side of financial services was highlighted by Cllr O’Mahoney when she recalled the support she received from the credit union when visiting Kolkata with the HOPE Foundation as a Transition Year student.
The chairman of Cairde Credit Union Ltd, Raymond Moloney, thanked the cathaoirleach and her fellow councillors for the reception and their kind words of support and encouragement. He went on to say that, following the merger with Lismore/Cappoquin Credit Union Ltd and Tallow Area Credit Union Ltd, the future for the movement, both locally and nationally, was bright. He referenced the Customer Experience awards, reminding those present that in 2024, the credit union movement won first prize for the tenth year in a row.
In his closing comments, the chairman recalled the words of the late John Hume, Nobel Peace Prize winner and a founder member of Derry Credit Union Ltd., when in an interview in 2003 he said, in relation to his involvement in setting up and promoting the movement, “it’s the thing I am proudest of because no movement has done more good for the people of Ireland”.
The reception concluded with cathaoirleach Niamh O’Donovan presenting a signed and framed scroll, marking the 60th anniversary, to Mr Raymond Moloney, chairperson of Cairde Credit Union Ltd.
