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In 1988 the Board of Directors reviewed the opening hours and decided to extend them for the benefit of our esteemed members. The Credit Union continued to grow apace and during 1993 Patricia Joyce was employed full time and Marian Glynn was employed on a part time basis. The office is now open from 9.30 a.m.to 5p.m. Monday to Saturday with late opening Saturday from 7p.m.to 9 p.m. Saturday evening service is provided solely by our voluntary workers.  This offers a total of 39.5 hours of service per week for our members. Possibly, the best in the Country!

The Board of Directors are committed to providing the best available services and security for our members. Security cameras with recording facilities are installed to deter would-be robbers. We have also fitted time-lock safes and are constantly reviewing security and services.

The Credit Union would not be successful without the dedication and commitment of our excellent staff and we acknowledge the tremendous contribution they have made to this success.

Brendan Melley was promoted to Manager in l982 and Greg Browne to Assistant Manager in 1992.

At present the additional services the Credit Union provides are: Commission Free Foreign Exchange, VHI at discounted rates, Home and Contents insurance through Home Union Insurance. We have also recently introduced the extremely popular Credit Union Drafts in Sterling and Punts. We are very much aware of falling interest rates and decided that from the 1st March 1996 the interest rate charged on loans would be reduced to 10% (APR 10.47). We have also introduced a range of other measures which will be to the advantage of the members who wish to borrow from the Credit Union. Details are available in the office.

It is the Board of Directors intention to provide facilities where members loan applications and interviews can be conducted in complete privacy. The Credit Union will continue to provide the “small” saver with an excellent rate of return on their savings.

At present legislation governing all Credit Unions is being debated in the Dáil. We have been reliably informed there will be many benefits contained for the members in this bill, which should be enacted in the near future. We believe the present five year borrowing period will be extended to ten years. The present maximum shareholding of £6,000.00 will be increased substantially and hopefully the life cover insurance provisions will increase accordingly. The details of these changes will be made available to members as soon as possible. The Credit Union has provided major sponsorship to many community events:

Parish Sports, Presentation College fundraising draw, Heritage Committee, Festival Committee, Primary School Quiz, The Athenry Journal and many more too numerous to mention.

Athenry Credit Union has also been active at National and Chapter level. Bertie Burns was a member of the Board of the Irish league of Credit Unions. Jim Flynn was Chairman of Chapter 16, Dick Smyth served as Auditor, Gerry McNamara was Secretary and Joe Dennison is the present Secretary of Chapter 16.

Today Athenry Credit Union has assets of over £9.25 million and a membership of over 7,000. The Credit Union celebrated its Thirtieth Anniversary in January of this year. With the continued loyal support of the membership Athenry Credit Union will certainly grow and prosper into the future. The Board of Directors confidently look forward to the challenges ahead and will endeavour at all times to serve the best interests of the members.

Athenry Credit Union has come a long way since the day of the “biscuit tin” in the Canton Hall. This is due in no small way to the innovation and foresight of successive Boards of Directors and Volunteers and Staff who have strived to provide the best possible service to the members. However it is you the members who for more than thirty years have contributed most to the success of the Credit Union. The Board of Directors thank you most sincerely.

Finally, Athenry Credit Union gratefully acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the under mentioned in the service of their Community: Arch-Deacon Conor Heaney, Dick Smyth, Donal Ó Cinnéide, Christy Barrett, Austin Corcoran, Tommy Coppinger, Maureen Burke, Bertie Burns, Marie Bean Ui Cléirigh, Gilbert McCarthy, Tom Lane, Jimmy Regan, Joe Conmy, Martin T. Kelly, Gerard Loughnane, Gerald Corbett, John Rabbitte, Breda Cawley, Val Niland, John Stack. Paddy Brennan, Jackie Monaghan, Maureen Healy, Jim Flynn, Gerry McNamara, Mattie Duane, Willie Hoyne, Jimmy Fahy, John Davis, Leo Coffey, Paul Browne, Mollie Smyth, Bridie Callanan. Frank Kilkelly, Noreen Hession, Helen Tully. Brendan Melley, Greg Browne, Michael McGrath, Finbarr O’Regan, Mary Shaughnessy, Muriel Nolan, Greg Rabbitte, Tommy McNamara, Christy Archer, Joe Walsh, Gerald Ryan, Marie Ryan, Mary Foran, Maureen Byrne-McKeown, Pauline McCarthy, Caithriona Cannon, Aine Foran, Ann Melley, Paula Cannon, Donna Shannon, Shirley Keane, Michael Duane, Eamonn Torpey, Kathleen Duane, Michael Browne and Michael Gardner.

Tom Lane P.R.O. Athenry Credit Union Ltd

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Written by Tom Lane

Published here 14 Nov 2022 and originally published 1996

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