Eugene Kierans by his own normal and instinctive day to day life has actually managed to make such a contribution to Drogheda and beyond that he has literally become woven into the fabric of life in Drogheda.  Eugene started out his working life as a messenger boy. He then went on to serve his time as a butcher in Kierans Butchers on West Street.  He then took a slight departure from his craft and took up a position selling machinery [to the butcher’s trade] for a firm known as Broderick’s.  Around that time he met and soon married his wife who to this day he describes as beautiful, wonderful and the love of his life. 

The new found responsibility that comes with a marriage saw him return to his trade and open up a shop in Yellowbatter, Drogheda. He instinctively and continuously delivered what we are all talking about these days as the essential ingredient in a retail experience - CUSTOMER SERVICE. Eugene Kierans literally delivered babies, provided lawnmowers and did a whole range of weird and wonderful acts of service between those two extremes for his customers. Though he is now retired from his business his son Kenneth continues in the same tradition and when he has occasion to visit Yellowbatter from time to time he is received and remembered with the love and affection he earned and reciprocated over so many decades.

He is a singer in his heart and was an enthusiastic and valued member of the Sandpit Choir.

He involved himself in his profession representing the locality and the principles he himself holds dear on the boards of: The Craft Butchers Federation, the Irish Master Butchers Federation [where which he also held the office of President], and finally he then went on to be one of the founder members of the unifying and single entity which now represents this sector, the Association of Craft Butchers of Ireland.

In a style which is present in all his work and efforts Eugene Kierans identified in his sector a need to unify and bring about a new identity and he worked with others to achieve that under the guise of its present day association. As if that in itself was not sufficient he was also one of the founder members of Bord Bia an entity which we all know now is a very important part of our economic efforts nationally.

Our lifetime achievement award winner was a very effective hooker for Drogheda Rugby Club in his time and he was also its President after his playing days were done, that club is known today as Boyne Rugby Club and our winner is still one of its most ardent supporters and admirers. 

He looked outward to ambitions for the town as well as inward to his own and his family’s ambitions and alongside training his only son in the trade of his life time’s work he engaged his efforts with the Drogheda Port Company where he held a seat on that Board and made another significant contribution not simply to the Board itself but also to the wider interests of Drogheda.

For many years and to this day Eugene Kierans made a very significant contribution to this Chamber of Commerce. First and for many years as member of the Board of Directors, or as we describe it the Chamber Council and he remains in that role today. This is as important to us today as more than ever we rely on his good counsel, the benefit of his many years of experience and his incredibly hilarious ability to tell a tale.  For the period between 2006 and 2008 he was the President of this Chamber and he was a much loved President.

Lifetime Achievement has the potential to sound as though it signals the conclusion of a body of work. However that is not what is intended by the award and we know Eugene Kierans has much more to give and much more to offer.