Chris Cully, Assistant General Secretary in the Health and Welfare Division is a well-known figure across Fórsa branches and workplaces. Following her recent retirement, it would be remiss not to mark the end of an era for Fórsa.

Chris began her journey as a trade unionist in 1983 in Richmond Hospital in Dublin, which later merged into the new Beaumont hospital. She was active locally to begin with and then went on to become a rep with the Dublin Health Services branch in 1989. From the early 2000s she became Cathaoirleach of the Dublin Hospital branch of IMPACT.

As Cathaoirleach and a member of the Health DEC, she was a key part of the negotiations surrounding the establishment of the HSE, a pivotal moment in Irish healthcare. 

She was roped into being an employee of IMPACT in 2008 and continued her work as an official after the creation of Fórsa. Her role in recent years was as Assistant General Secretary with national responsibility for members in Tusla and some of the professional groups concentrated in the children, family and social care areas. 

Paying tribute to Chris’s years of service Head of the Health & Welfare division Ashley Connolly said: “Anyone who worked with her knows she gave it her all. She started her time as a trade unionist as a young woman with a young family, but nothing was ever too much for her. She went above and beyond for her colleagues and friends.”

“Her legacy for workers’ rights speaks for itself, as does the fact that so many of you reading this will know her first-hand and will no doubt have benefited from her tireless advocacy. But we also want to celebrate her strength, friendship, and generosity of spirit.”

As noted by General Secretary Kevin Callinan at her retirement party, while we are sad to see her go, no one deserves a long and happy retirement more than Chris.

And Chris, don’t worry, “ask me sister” will live on in the canteen!

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