Seamus’ career an ode to enterprise

Skehana’s native’s generous spirit recognised with honorary doctorate

‘FIND a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” is a quote attributed to the ‘father of American literature’, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, more commonly known as Mark Twain.

Even at the sprightly age of 87, it’s a mantra that Skehana native Seamus McDermott still abides by as he continues to bestow advice upon aspiring entrepreneurs and helps to guide their promising businesses to fulfil their potential.

The son of Patrick and Margaret (née Fleming, originally from Brierfield just outside Moylough), McDermott was a recent recipient of the first ever honorary doctorate from University College Dublin in Engineering for his leading role in establishing a Dublin-based charity which promotes job creation and enterprise development almost 40 years ago.

Seamus spent the first ten years of his life on his family’s home in Skehana before they upped sticks and moved to Clontuskert, just a ten-minute drive outside Ballinasloe.

Thurles CBS was where he attended secondary school and Seamus admits he was always something of a maths whizz, meaning engineering appeared to be the clear and obvious path for him to follow…

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