Scaling new heights in electrical contracting for almost 30 years, Callaghan Electrical was delighted to be shortlisted in three different categories at the 2025 Irish Construction Industry (ICI) Awards.
The County Cavan-based company’s commitment to excellence is reflected in it being a finalist for ‘Subcontractor of the Year’, ‘Innovation in Construction’ and ‘Apprenticeship Programme’. Launched in 2014, the Irish Construction Industry (ICI) Awards recognise, encourage and celebrate original and innovative contractors, businesses, teams, consultants and projects that demonstrate excellence in the built environment.
Callaghan Electrical delivers complex, high-quality electrical solutions with a focus on innovation, safety and people development. Its strengthened apprenticeship programme ensures a skilled future workforce. ISO-certified and digitally advanced, the company is recognised for excellence across major projects, earning client trust and setting industry standards in quality, sustainability and heritage-sensitive projects. From humble beginnings, it has evolved into a thriving operation with 91 direct employees who are supported and supplemented by the tried and tested subcontractors.
“We’re going from strength to strength,” founder and CEO Kieran Callaghan enthuses.
“We currently have 120 people – including subcontractors – working on 14 different sites across the country. We’re just a few weeks away from completing the full electrical installation of our first pharmaceutical project in Stamullen, Co. Meath, which is massive for us. Our involvement in the expansion of the existing PCI Pharma Services facility, which is being carried out in conjunction with McGarrell Reilly, opens up a whole new market for us and further demonstrates our flexibility and ability to work in any sector.
“Our other big current project is with the Elliott Group in Adamstown, Co. Dublin where they are developing 436 residential units across three separate apartment block phases. We started the full electrical installation in August 2024 and are on course for completion in October 2025. This project also highlights our ability to deliver while working to the tightest of deadlines.”
Unsurprisingly, Kieran was thrilled to be in the running for three awards at the Irish Construction Industry (ICI) Awards which took place on October 10 in The Convention Centre, Dublin.
“First and foremost, the nominations are testament to our amazing team which we have built over the last 29 years. Our people are our greatest asset,” he stresses.
“All of our foremen except for one have served their apprenticeship with us. We encourage career development, leadership, teamwork and efficiency. This enables us to produce great work and to deliver fantastic projects.
“Any awards nomination is cherished and appreciated. It’s recognition for the work we’ve put in to get to where we are now. We’re obviously doing something very right.”
Kieran attributes the ‘Subcontractor of the Year’ nomination to Callaghan Electrical’s ability to work in perfect harmony with all stakeholders on projects.
“We enjoy an excellent working relationship with the main contractor and the other trades. This, along with adhering to the sequence of works, is so important to delivering on time and within budget. Before each project, we look at what may or may not work. We have that combination of vision and experience which helps to speed things up. We embrace pioneering technology, systems and innovation to stay ahead of the game.
“To see our name on the shortlist alongside some of the biggest names in the Irish construction sector is humbling and gratifying. For us to be rubbing shoulders with them is a great feeling. It makes you proud of everyone in our team.”
Callaghan Electrical’s ‘Innovation Everywhere’ change process drives smarter, scalable technology adoption. By streamlining workflows, improving communication and empowering teams through real-time data and lean practices, it is redefining construction delivery – making projects safer, faster and more efficient while setting a new standard for industry innovation.
“We’ve invested heavily in innovation and it’s nice to be recognised for that also,” Kieran says of the ‘Innovation in Construction’ nomination.
“We’ve been using AI for the past two-and-a-half years. It’s unbelievable what you can do with it, especially when it comes to payment structures and invoicing. Noleen Sexton and Orla Crowe have looked after our payroll and accounts for many years and we haven’t had to increase our admin team, despite the huge growth experienced elsewhere in the company.
“By the same token, we’ve used innovation and technology to increase our staff while maintaining a tight business.”
Callaghan Electrical showcases outstanding project delivery and safety excellence. Its long-standing apprenticeship programme, which was restructured last year, plays a key role in future-proofing the workforce, developing skilled professionals through hands-on training and strong Education & Training Boards (ETB) partnerships. This investment in people underpins the company’s ISO-certified performance and industry-leading project outcomes across Ireland.
“Our apprentices are shown a growth path right from the start. To see what can be achieved, they don’t have to look any further than Padraig Reilly and Gabriel Sheridan, who started out as apprentices and are now company directors.
“At Callaghan Electrical, our apprentices are given the opportunity to upskill and excel. We employ a full-time training coordinator, Emma Mackarel who drives our training programme. You see the benefits in the results – our work speaks for itself. There are 35 electrical systems on every project now and our apprentices must understand that and how to integrate them with other systems, whether that be in houses, apartments, schools or hospitals.”
Founded in 1996, Callaghan Electrical continues to set the standards in delivering high-specification electrical installation, fit out and maintenance contracts for large-scale residential, commercial and public sector developments. It has built a reputation for quality, trust, integrity and commitment among design partners, developers, architects and direct clients alike.
Over the past three decades, Kieran and his team have consistently demonstrated their ability to adapt and evolve their offerings, solutions and delivery approaches to meet changing market requirements and a growing client base. Their portfolio of completed projects is as impressive as it is diverse, with key long-term clients, including McGarrell Reilly Group, Elliott Group, and public sector organisations such as the HSE and OPW.
Today, Callaghan Electrical holds specialist, niche electrical expertise and capability across the commercial, residential, healthcare, education, pharmaceutical, industrial and lighting
sectors.
The company is always driven by a quality ethos. This encompasses its people, processes and technology, and means that for all engagements, it brings a solution-focused approach to meet each client’s and project’s specific electrical requirements.
“We have all grown within the business, have grown together, and have grown stronger as a team. And we have learned together. Every day is a learning day, for all of us, including myself. I put procedures in place to help the team, but we aren’t micromanaging them. I give them the tools and they take responsibility for their work. We’ve invested a lot in technology and that allows us to keep growing the business and ensure that our quality remains consistently high.”
The contractor’s corporate social responsibility includes sponsoring Loreto College, Cavan Ladies Football Team and the minor football league and championship in the Breffni County.
“We’ve supported Loreto College for the past 10 years and in that time, they’ve won three All-Ireland ‘A’ titles which is a phenomenal achievement. We’ve also taken on the sponsorship of the minor league and championship in Cavan this year which is something we’re also very excited about and proud to support,” adds the Laragh clubman, who served as Cavan GAA chairman from 2020 (when the county won its first Ulster senior football championship in 23 years) to 2024.
Kieran would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients and suppliers for their continued support as well as his direct employees and subcontractors for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Here’s to the next 30 years!
Callaghan Electrical
Drumlaunaght,Stradone,
Co. Cavan.
Telephone: 049 4330111
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.callaghanelectrical.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, December 2025, Vol 11 No 13
Callaghan Electrical, featured
