Eugene is from Clones in County Monaghan. He arrived in Luton in 1969.

He worked at Vauxhall commencing as a production operator before he changed role to be a stock feeder, he was later promoted to supervisor before he retired after thirty two years of service. When he started working for the organisation there were 25,000 employees, when the plant at Luton ceased car production staff levels were down to 5,000.

In 1986 Eugene won an award and a letter of commendation (see photo on right) from the Suggestion Plan Committee for his innovative suggestions at Vauxhall. One idea he came up with was to fit the car radios at the end of the production process so that it was more difficult for car thieves to take them.

He was a founder member of the Luton Celtic Supporters Club whose premises were opened in 1977 in a ceremony performed by Celtic’s legendary manager Jock Stein CBE. Their main objective was the support of the Scottish football team Celtic and to enjoy the social life this brought. The club still exists to this day and provides a centre for the social activities of the residents of Park Town and Luton.

He was a keen handball player, a Gaelic sport popular in Ireland. In 1963 he was awarded a medal for his participation in a tournament at Croke Park when he finished as third runner up. He received a bronze medal a few years later when he reached the semi-finals of a competition in 1969.

Eugene is a dedicated distance runner and a member of the running group the Stopsley Striders. He has run the London Marathon five times, his best year being 1980 when he set a personal best time and completed the event in 2 hours and 55 minutes. Only last year he ran the 10K Manchester Run in 57 minutes.

Asked about his sentiments towards Luton, Eugene is grateful for the opportunities the town has given him: “Luton gave me a very good living; more so than I would have had in Ireland”.