Barbara Heslin Retires as Director of Services with Longford County Council
Dedicated Public Official Praised for her Commitment to Communities, Strong Leadership and Extensive Local Government Knowledge and Expertise
Press Release: Friday, 7 August 2026
Tributes are being paid to Barbara Heslin, who has retired from Longford County Council as Director of Services after 11 years with the local authority.
Barbara retires from her role as Director of Services for Physical Development, with responsibility for Roads and Transportation, Environment, Climate Action, Water Services, Planning, Fire and Emergency Services, the Physical Development SPC, and Granard Municipal District.
The Longford native leaves behind a remarkable legacy of professionalism, integrity and dedication to local government. Her extensive knowledge of local government legislation, combined with her attention to detail and thorough understanding of rules and procedures, made her a trusted authority whose expertise was regularly sought by local authorities across the country.
Her distinguished service has made a lasting contribution to local government and will be remembered with great respect and appreciation by colleagues, elected members and communities throughout County Longford.
Barbara is a graduate of NUI Galway and a Chartered Accountant. She has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. She joined Longford County Council in 2015 as Director of Services, having previously worked with the Irish Prison Service and KPMG.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Gerry Hagan, said:
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Barbara for her years of dedicated service and commitment to both the Council and the people of Longford. Her professionalism, hard work and approachable nature have earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues across the organisation. On behalf of the elected members, I wish Barbara a long, happy and fulfilling retirement as she begins this new chapter of her life.”
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Samantha Healy, said:
“Throughout her career, Barbara has exemplified the very best of public service. She was driven by an unwavering commitment to serving others and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the lives of the people and communities of County Longford. Barbara combined exceptional professionalism and expertise with a deep understanding of the needs, opportunities and challenges facing our county, and she was always guided by what was best for our communities. Her integrity, work ethic and wise counsel earned the respect of colleagues, elected members and local government professionals across the country. She leaves behind a strong legacy of service, achievement and dedication to County Longford. We will miss her greatly and wish Barbara and her family every happiness, good health and fulfilment in the years ahead."
As Barbara begins her retirement, we wish her and her family every happiness for the future. While she will be greatly missed by colleagues and friends throughout Longford County Council, we are delighted for her as she looks forward to spending more time with family and friends and enjoying all the opportunities that retirement brings. We wish her continued health, happiness and success in the years ahead.
