Coming up on 50 years in business, O’Hara & Harrison Ltd is one of the leading electrical contracting firms in the North-West. Based in Letterkenny, the family-run business provides its clients – many of whom are long-standing – with a quality and efficient service on a continual basis.
O’Hara & Harrison Ltd was formed by Liam O’Hara and Kenneth Harrison in 1970 and has since grown to employ 23 staff and provide a wide and varied range of services to customers throughout the North-West and beyond. The company boasts a skilled and professional workforce, and is focused on maintaining high standards and combining quality with efficiency in every project it undertakes. O’Hara & Harrison Ltd prides itself on delivering an unrivalled service on time, within budget and to the highest and safest standards.
Now headed up by Liam O’Hara Jnr, this exceptional contractor has a wealth of experience in domestic, commercial and industrial installations, data cabling, emergency lighting, energy-saving solutions, fire alarm installation, testing and commissioning, IT network cabling, renovations, machinery fault finding and repairs, periodic inspection work, PLC, automation for all industrial purposes, portable appliance testing and thermal imaging.
“We provide the full range of services when it comes to electrical work. Many of our customers have been with us for years and they come from a wide range of sectors, including commercial, industrial, pharmaceutical, healthcare and domestic to name but a few,” Liam says.
“We have a dedicated, experienced and highly-qualified team of electricians, many of who joined us as apprentices. We place a strong emphasis on Quality Assurance and aim to deliver high-quality electrical installation works using only the very best materials along with top-class workmanship which can be delivered within specific time frames.”
O’Hara & Harrison Ltd also strives to ensure that employees, clients and anyone else involved in a project adhere to its strict Health & Safety policy. The management make it their priority to provide and maintain safe working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all employees who work on sites managed by the company, ensuring all can work safely and remain free from injury and ill health.
The company’s maintenance division provides services to a range of customers, including Donegal County Council, Dunnes Stores in Letterkenny, Department of Education & Skills, Office of Public Works, including Glenveagh National Park and Glenveagh Castle, Donegal Castle, Government Offices / Buildings, Coast Guard Stations and Garda Stations throughout Co. Donegal.
The contractor has successfully completed numerous electrical fitouts and installations in the region. While not its biggest by any means, one of O’Hara & Harrison Ltd’s most high-profile projects was the installation of a new rapid EVBOX electric car charger at Glenveagh National Park last year. The first electric car to try out the new facility was a Renault Zoe from Highland Motors in Letterkenny.
It was the first rapid car charger installed by National Parks & Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in their National Parks. The facility has the capability to charge two cars simultaneously and is located in the public car park at Glenveagh National Park.
The Government has set a target of one million electric cars on Irish roads by 2030 under its Climate Action Plan, meaning that many more car chargers will need to be installed.
“We’ve installed six car chargers in the Donegal area to date. It’s a growing area for us, but it will be dictated by how quickly motorists switch over the electric cars. It won’t happen as quickly in Donegal as in Dublin, for example, where car journeys are much shorter,” O’Hara & Harrison Ltd contracts manager James Peoples says.
Among the electrical fitouts and installations O’Hara & Harrison Ltd has completed in the past year are: Pramercia Services eco-friendly building, Letterkenny; Optum Ireland, Letterkenny; Kelly’s Toyota Showroom, Letterkenny; McElhinney’s Department Store, Ballybofey; Revenue Building, Letterkenny; IT Sligo F.Lab Auditorium; Highlands Hotel, Glenties; Glenveagh National Park; Letterkenny Primary Care Centre; North-West Regional Science Park CoLab extension, Letterkenny; Letterkenny University Hospital – new permanent laboratories and medical academy, haematology / oncology unit and coronary care unit.
Ballyshannon Primary Care Centre; St Columba’s Church, Kilmacrenna; Enterprise car rental offices, Letterkenny; Dungloe Community Hospital; Donegal Town Public Services Centre; Donegal County Museum; Donegal County Library; Daniel O’Donnell Visitor Centre, Dungloe; Clady ESB Power Station; Central Bar, Letterkenny; Carndonagh Community Hospital; Aura Leisure Centre, Letterkenny.
“While we will go wherever the work takes us and therefore offer a nationwide service, we generally stick to Donegal and the North-West,” James explains.
“We are fortunate to have so many loyal customers in our region who use our services time and time again. We retain existing customers and attract new ones by providing a top-class, professional, friendly and cost-effective service. As we approach our 50th anniversary, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients for their business and continued support.”
O’Hara & Harrison Ltd
High Road,
Letterkenny,
Co. Donegal.
Telephone: +353 (0)74 9122488
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, October, Vol 5 No 10
