More ‘Power’ to you: Breda’s 50 years in same Limerick legal firm

ON MONDAY, September 30, 1974, a 17-year-old girl from Athlacca cycled the five miles to Kilmallock for her first day in work in Maurice Power Solicitors - and she never left.

Breda Sheehan has retired after 50 years working in the firm as a receptionist and then legal secretary. The days of people working for the same company all their working lives is becoming rarer and rarer but Breda never wanted to leave.

She signed off last Thursday, September 26 with Powers marking her retirement with a meal and presentations in the Dunraven Arms in Adare on Friday night.

Breda was the third youngest of Mick and Peg Sheehan’s nine children. After completing her Matric (the old Leaving Cert) and a commercial typing course it was time to find a job. Ireland was a very different country in 1974 - there was no travelling to Australia for a year, and money for college was hard to come by.

“I started looking for a job. A teacher in the Technical School in Kilmallock contacted me and said that there's a vacancy in Powers. It was John Snr who interviewed me. He asked me a few questions and I had the typing course done - it was a manual typewriter in those days! He said I can start on Monday, September 30,” said Breda.

She bought a bike, and hail, rain or shine, cycled to and from Kilmallock every morning and evening for a couple of years. Along the way she would meet Rita Sexton, from Bruree, who also worked in Powers, and they cycled together.

“It was lovely. I just fitted in. Some clients would come in and give me a bar of chocolate. I just got on well with the people coming in the door,” said Breda.

Her first pay cheque was 12 old Irish pounds.

When she joined, Maurice Power was the State solicitor for County Limerick. Indeed, he was the longest serving State solicitor in the country from 1940 to 1993 - a remarkable 53 years.

“The late Mary Power, from Effin, trained me in the State work. I was still on reception and doing the State work. I was doing books of evidence and issuing summonses for no television licences.

“Some publicans were overcharging so we had to send summonses out to them. I couldn't go in for a drink anywhere,” laughed Breda

Maurice’s son John continued as the State Solicitor from 1993 to 1998 and Breda became his right hand woman. Between the two of them she worked for 25 years on the State's criminal cases in county Limerick. 

Breda was noted for her attention to detail. She was assigned to every new solicitor that came in to show them the ropes. They’d often learn more from Breda in a few weeks than a year in college.

“I had a bit of experience, I suppose,” she says modestly.

In a twist of fate, the County Limerick State solicitor job has returned to the practice with Brendan Gill, partner, being appointed earlier this year.

Breda’s solicitor for the last 18 years was Mark Power, managing partner, so she has now worked for three generations of Powers.

Did she ever think about leaving or trying something new?

“Hand on my heart, never.  I was happy there, and I was happy doing my work. They were always very good to me,” said Breda, who thanked all her work colleagues over the past 50 years. “It was a pleasure to work with each and everyone of them." 

How did Breda feel on her last day on Thursday.

“I was in bits all day - I was very emotional. I’ll probably be sitting in reception on Monday morning,” she joked.

“I don’t know where the time went - you don’t miss it going.”

Her colleagues would like to appeal Breda's decision to retire but the Athlacca woman is looking forward to having more time to herself after loving every second of her career. It was a life sentence she was very happy and proud to serve.

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Mark Power, managing partner, said Breda is one of those rare people who bring their “A” game with them every day no matter what life throws at them. 

“Breda has been a member of our team at Maurice Power Solicitors since 1974 and has worked for three generations of the Power family. I have had the pleasure of working with Breda for the last eighteen years. 

“She has an incredible eye for detail, a great work ethic and was always willing to assist others. It is going to be a massive change to us all not having Breda around the office, but we are all just hoping it may just be a career break as opposed to retirement,” Mark smiled.