Councillors will bid farewell to two members of council staff this month.
Mayor John Dolan (FG ) began the March Athlone Municipal District meeting by wishing Barry Lenihan of the roads department farewell.
Mr Lenihan is returning home to his native Longford to take on a role with the county council. Councillors paid tribute to the work he undertook during his time in Westmeath County Council, before wishing him good luck in his new role.
Councillors also bid a fond farewell to Anne McNamara, who is retiring after 37 years in the council's service.
Mayor Dolan said Ms McNamara had overseen all kinds of changes, including the move from Town Council to Municipal District. He wished her well in her retirement, which he remarked is "truly deserved".
Fianna Fáil councillor, Aengus O'Rourke, said Ms McNamara was always the one to welcome new councillors and show them around. He joked that there might be a book in all she had witnessed in her 37 years, before wishing her all the best.
Sinn Féin's Paul Hogan said Ms McNamara always executed her duties with "precision and attention to detail", adding that her successor has "a huge role to fill".
