As the longest-established strand of the burgeoning McGonagle Group, E McGonagle & Sons is widely regarded as the premier commercial and residential plumbing, heating and mechanical, contracting company in the North West. We visited their Malin, County Donegal head office and touched base with director Kevin McGonagle to find out more about this exceptional family enterprise.
Regularly engaged on a vast array of major projects for the HSE, the Department of Education and Hotel & Leisure industry as well as serving a host of main contractors and home owners, E McGonagle & Sons boast almost half a century of expertise and have over that time forged an enviable reputation as Donegal’s No.1 plumbing heating and mechanical contracting company
Reflecting on the genesis of this superb family business, which now incorporates four thriving companies under the McGonagle Group Ltd. banner, director Kevin McGonagle notes: “Our late dad, Eddie McGonagle, who was originally from Malin, spent 20 years working in Chicago before returning to Donegal in 1968 and starting as a sole trader. He worked hard himself and with the help of two-three men gradually built the business up.
“Dad had four sons and each of us joined the business as we became old enough to do so. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1983 at a relatively young age and today the four brothers are directors – Eddie Jnr., myself, Hugh and Denis. There were six of us involved when our father took ill – Dad, Eddie, Hugh, two other apprentices and myself – and we stayed at that level for a few years.”
Since then, the McGonagle siblings have built up a multifaceted operation that generates gainful employment for a team of 24 people – quite an accomplishment considering not just their relatively remote location but also the fact that the construction sector, on which all aspects of the group are largely dependent – is just emerging from the turmoil of the worst recession in living memory.
In 1988 the McGonagle brothers decided to expand the business and opened a retail Bathroom and Tile showroom in Letterkenny in a rented premises at the Station Roundabout. Later in 1999 they moved to a new purpose built showroom on the Port Road. Three years later the site next door became available so the development was extended and now includes twelve units comprising a mix of retail and office suites known as Rossview Business Park just off the Polestar Roundabout.
Kevin continues “McGonagle Group Ltd. incorporates E McGonagle & Sons, which is the original plumbing, heating and mechanical services company; Allied Plumbing & Heating, which is a heating and plumbing supplies company servicing the trade; Donegal Tile Centre, which specialises in tile and bathroom retail to the trade and the general public and the latest venture Rossview Interiors – a furniture retail outlet also situated along side Donegal Tile Centre at Rossview Business Park in Letterkenny. Donegal Tile Centre also has a wall and floor tile contracting division and some of their more notable contracts include the Aura Leisure Centre, Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel & Spa, Inishowen Gateway Hotel and more recently the refurbishment of the Leisure Centre at the Mount Errigal Hotel Letterkenny.
Out of a total group employment of 24, which now includes four of the third generation of the Mc Gonagle family, thirteen work in the mechanical services department which is split approximately 80:20 between commercial and residential work, handling both installations and maintenance work with a high degree of professionalism, efficiency and client care. Projects are invariably delivered on time and to programme, across Letterkenny and the North West of the island. “On occasion we do work across the border in Northern Ireland but generally speaking it’s in and around the North West” Kevin points out.
Key mechanical services contracts that E McGonagle & Sons were busy on at the time of writing included Highlands Hotel in Glenties; The Stepping Stone Bar and Bank Bistro in Dungloe, a project at Letterkenny General Hospital comprising renovation of the Haematology / Oncology unit and a new build Coronary Care unit and they’ve also just started a substantial contract in IT Sligo.
Recent educational projects undertaken include Deele College Raphoe (where E McGonagle & Sons handled all mechanical works on a sizeable two-storey, 12-15 classroom extension which opened in September), a number of contracts within the LYIT Campus, Gaelscoil Adhamhnain, Letterkenny; Carndonagh Community School, Moville Community College and Crana College, Buncana. Within the hotel industry they were main mechanical contractors to the Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel, An Grianan Hotel, Burt; the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, Rathmullan House and the Station House Hotel in Letterkenny while one of their biggest projects to date within the industrial sector was the recently completed extension and refurbishment to the Zeus plant in Letterkenny.
Down through the years, the team has acquired great experience of operating in live environments without any interference to the occupants – a trait which is essential to mechanical services providers in the 21st century. Working in the healthcare, educational and retail sectors in particular, this can be crucial. “We were involved in alterations to the Acute Mental Health unit at Letterkenny Hospital, where the system had to be kept operational and also recently worked in the Laboratory end of the hospital where the adjoining rooms were occupied,” says Kevin.
On the commercial and retail side of things, E McGonagle & Sons carried out all the mechanical works on the SITA Call Centre in Letterkenny – a new three-storey building – as well as the new Affidea medical scanning centre which opened in Letterkenny last summer.
Commitment to delivering each and every project in a thoughtful, professional and client-focussed manner is at the heart of the company’s success over the years. “Dedication is key,” Kevin confirms. “And communication with the client to achieve what they are looking for, on time and within budget. At the end of the day, it comes down to dedication, hard work and attention to detail. If the client is satisfied, they will come back to us.
“We tend to work primarily for the same select group of builders that we’ve worked with for years. They stick with us and we stick with them. We’ve built up good working relationships and it seems to be working for us.”
Of course, the economic downturn offered a whole new set of challenges but this enduring family business has come through ‘relatively unscathed!’: “During the darker years, it was a definite struggle but we managed to keep things operational, which was obviously the main objective. Our regular builders stuck with us, thankfully, and that helped us to come out the other end. Maintaining good working relationships with people was instrumental in getting us through that period.”
Slowly but surely, the sector is re-emerging. Does Kevin feel that there’s scope for growth now? “Everybody accepts that things are picking up and the economy is showing signs of life again, with more work to tender for,” he concludes. “While we certainly wouldn’t have any ambitions to take over the world, we will take any opportunities that come our way.
“But, whatever stage it reaches, we want to be able to manage the business properly and to continue to guarantee our clients a high-quality service. Good workmanship and strong relationships will remain our priority.”
E McGonagle & Sons,
Culkeeny,
Malin,
County Donegal
Tel: 074 9379154
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, May 2017, Vol 3 No 4
