Nearing close to half a century in existence, Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd is a family owned business which has grown from strength to strength, enjoying a strong growth phase in recent years. Building Ireland learned more from company’s Contracts Manager, Paul Lynch recently.
These are busy times for Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd and the plan is very much to keep things that way, according to Paul Lynch.
The company’s Contracts Manager has been part of the team down in Tralee for the best part of a decade-and-a-half now and in that time has become an essential part of the business.
Paul would be the first to tell you that the aim at Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd has always been to deliver quality projects and value for money for clients, which goes a long way to explaining the unquestionable success of the company.
Run by Declan Costello – son of its original founder – Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd was incorporated in 1977 and has been in existence for more than 45 years.
It’s a business which has truly gone from strength to strength over the last number of years, with an experienced and focused team of staff, as Paul Lynch took the time to explain to Building Ireland recently.
“Our head office is in Ballymullen, Tralee, Co Kerry and the company itself has been incorporated since 1977,” he stated.
“We’ve 40 staff and Eamon’s son Declan is the Managing Director here, so you could say that it’s a second generation company.
“My role is as Contracts Manager and when I started in 2004 it was just as a summer placement. The following year I began as a junior engineer and I’ve forged my career with the company from there.”
Fifteen years later, Paul’s now immersed in the company which he explained has a diverse portfolio in main contracting, from specialist Medical Installations, large scale commercial projects, design and builds through to unique Restoration/Conservation projects.
It’s this range which has helped grow Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd into the company it is today, operating with 40 staff from offices in both Tralee and Dublin.
“We’re a general contractor but have a very strong medical and conservation skillsets. We work for Government bodies like the OPW and IDA but do repeat work for a lot of private clients also,” outlined the Contracts Manager.
“We’ve completed theatres, hotels, community district heating projects, nursing homes and have a lot of office and retail experience.
“In January, we completed work on a €16million Euro Sports Academy at IT Tralee as a new home for the Health and Leisure Department.”
The project was a new build on a green field site which consisted of sports hall, teaching gyms, lecture halls, swimming pool, changing village, and break out spaces for staff and students.
It’s completion marked a milestone for IT Tralee as they amalgamate their campus in Dromtacker and saw another excellent project added to the portfolio of Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd, as the company continues to build its reputation with the focus firmly on growing the ability of the business to deliver in new and innovative ways.
The approach has gained plenty of repeat business down through the years and the company now boasts a strong reputation for having a competitive edge and reliable execution on all projects undertaken.
Throughout Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd’s history, the firm has never been involved in arbitration or litigation over contract disputes.
The policy of the company has always been one of co-operation with clients and with their design teams through a hands-on approach.
Through modern business practices and management techniques, they strive to deliver projects on time and to a very high standard, which reflects well on all involved in doing so.
Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd’s portfolio of successfully completed project extends to a broad range of sectors including Residential, Restoration/Conservation, Healthcare, Industrial, Commercial, Civil/Streetscape, Leisure and Hospitality. It’s all a far cry from when the late Eamon Costello first started out in early 1970s with is construction firm.
The Co Kerry native built his company from the ground up before his untimely passing in 1992, as Paul explained:
“Eamon would have passed away 27 years ago this year and Declan and his brother Anthony took on the company after that. From there, the business went from being a local builder to a national one.
“At the moment we’re quite busy but construction was at a low period in this country between 2009 and 2011. Thankfully, we weathered the storm and our turnover last year was €22million.”
That figure tells its own story as the company is currently immersed in projects with the OPW in Cork, Tricell in Killarney and an apartment complex in Dublin, to name a few. So what has been the secret to success?
How has a business which started off as a small building outfit grown into what is now a significantly sized construction services company. For Paul, consistent delivery of quality in their projects goes a long way towards answering the question.
“I think that they (the clients) acknowledge the quality in our work. We’ve a very strong team here and we’re very proud of the work that we do,” he stated plainly.
In June, a project and work of Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd earned double recognition on a national scale when the company was shortlisted at the Irish Construction Industry Awards, and the project scooped top honours in the Wellbeing category of the RIAI Architecture Awards 2019.
Completed by August 2018, the excellent Bon Secours Care Village located just west of Cork City was nominated for the ICIA’s Health Project of the Year and works by Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd saw the addition of thirty-six care suites and associated site developments.
In June at the Citywest Hotel, Bon Secours Care Village missed out on winning the Health Project of the Year but the recognition alone was something appreciated by Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd.
“A win would’ve been great but it was fantastic to be nominated for it,” the company’s Contracts Manager concluded.
Eamon Costello (Kerry) Ltd.
17 Murphy’s Terrace,
Ballymullen,
Tralee,
Co. Kerry
Dublin office:
43a Main Street Belmayne,
Dublin 17
Call: +353 66 7194988
Web: www.eckerry.com
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, August, Vol 5 No 8
