Shanowen Plant Hire Ltd (Demolition) is a one-stop shop for all your demolition, plant hire, site clearance, value-added bulk excavation, deep drainage, groundworks, concrete works and asbestos removal requirements.
Strategically located just off Exit 5 of the M50 in The Ward, Dublin 11, the exceptional family-run business has been providing large and small developers, local authorities and the domestic and healthcare sectors with a top-class service for over 40 years. With a vast array of machinery, including excavators, dumpers, loading shovels, teleporters, tipper trucks, grab trucks, tractor units, trailers, road sweepers, screeners and crushers at its disposal, Shanowen Plant Hire can take care of any job.
Established in November 1984 by husband-and-wife Joe and Julie Patton, the business is now owned and operated by their son Paddy who is joined by a 54-strong workforce. The company takes its name from the Shanowen area of Santry in Co. Dublin, where Joe and Julie moved to from their native Killygordon, Co. Donegal over half a century ago.
“My parents are still involved in the day-to-day running of the business,” Paddy Patton says.
“We have a wealth of experience and a highly-skilled team who are committed to providing our customers with the best service solution to suit their needs. It goes without saying that we wouldn’t be where we are today without our team. They are fantastic lads.
“We have evolved over the years to provide a full suite of services, including demolition, plant hire, haulage, site clearance, pipe work, deep drainage, groundworks and asbestos removal. We usually link up with Roadstone when it comes to concrete works. We have two groundworks crews and hold waste collection and mobile crushing permits for the whole of Ireland. We have an unrivalled track record for delivering prompt, professional and efficient services. As a family-run business, we also pride ourselves on providing a personal touch.
“While the demolition jobs are getting bigger, we still value the small ones. They’re the ones that keep you going in the quieter times. But no job is too big or too small. We’re geared up for the bigger jobs. Most of our work is concentrated in the greater Dublin area, but we’ll go further afield if we have to, and are currently working on a project in Monaghan.”
Shanowen Plant Hire has successfully completed a wide array of demolition projects, from houses to high-rise buildings, and hospitals to warehouses. The company has built up a magnificent fleet of fresh and immaculately-maintained machinery, which can be tailored to every project, with each machine manned by a highly-experienced operative.
“We’re constantly investing in our fleet to ensure the best possible for our customers,” Paddy explains.
“We have 13-14 trucks, including a new Scania 770S twin-tag tractor unit which was purchased from McElvaney Motors. It’s spec’d to the last and is the only one in the country with 10-inch stacks. We also recently took delivery of a new Kobelco SK 270 excavator from McSharry Brothers. Our diggers range from 1-50 tonnes. Having the right tools for each job is half the battle.
“We also regularly maintain and service our machines to ensure there is no such thing as downtime.”
Shanowen Plant Hire boasts an impressive client list that includes Tier One main contractors such as Walls, BAM Ireland, John Paul Construction and Cairn Homes as well as The Mater Hospital, HSE and a growing number of data centres.
“We’ve branched into working directly for data centres. It’s a big growth area for us,” the affable managing director continues.
“Our largest project at the moment is in Sandyford where we are carrying out site works, demolition and groundworks on a development of office and apartment blocks. There’s a very good mix of work there. We have high-reach machines to carry out demolition on high-rise buildings and also a fleet of mobile crushers and screeners to reduce and recycle rubble.”
Looking to the future, Paddy is determined to keep Shanowen Plant Hire on an upward trajectory.
“We have an excellent customer-base with whom we enjoy excellent relationships. A lot of them are long-term customers going back to the days when my mother and father were getting the business off the ground and those relationships with loyal customers have endured to this day.”
As Shanowen Plant Hire continues to go from strength to strength, Paddy would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients, suppliers and contractors for their continued support as well as his excellent staff for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Shanowen Plant Hire Ltd (Demolition)
Bishopswood House,
The Ward,
Dublin 11.
Telephone: 01 864 2228 / 087 415 0755
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.sph.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, September 2026, Vol 12 No 9
