As a civil engineering and groundworks specialist with strong GAA connections, it was entirely fitting that Foran Construction should be awarded the main groundworks contract for the £4.17 million redevelopment of the Irish TV Grounds in Ruislip, which is the home of London GAA.
After nine years of talks and deliberations, work has finally commenced on the redevelopment of Ruislip, which has been a meeting place for generations of Irish people living in London.
Having met through their involvement with the Heston Gaels GAA club, Foran Construction founders Aidan Thompson and Paul Lavelle have been entrusted with the ground works and recently started work on what was previously known as the Emerald Grounds. Given that the GAA is close to their hearts, it’s a project they are proud and delighted to be associated with.
“It’s a fantastic contract for us. It’s great to be a part of it,” enthuses Paul, who is a native of Miltown, Co. Galway.
“We have spent more Sundays in Ruislip than we care to remember. When Heston Gaels won the London intermediate football championship in 2013, both Aidan and myself were involved. That’s a great memory for us both.
“Ruislip is like a home from home for the Irish in London and it’s wonderful to see this redevelopment finally taking place. The ground badly needed a facelift and we’re looking after all of the ground, concrete and drainage works.”
London GAA was first allocated €300,000 by Croke Park to redevelop the venue back in April 2007, but a series of stumbling blocks delayed matters. The Ruislip Development Committee was formed by the county board in May 2011 in a bid to move the project along, and extra funding to the tune of £1.8 million was secured from GAA headquarters and the Irish Government.
A new start date for construction was set for June 2015, but after talks with the main contractor broke down, the redevelopment was delayed until this summer. Foran Construction is one of four contractors who have been appointed to share responsibility of the development across the groundworks, steel framing, general build and the pitch.
Ambitious plans announced last year included the construction of a 2,330 seat stand, a new training area for players, four dressing rooms, a gym and medical room as well as a new road entrance to the ground and a newly-laid pitch with attenuation tanks, but these may be downgraded if the project runs over budget.
“The new stadium is expected to be ready in time for London’s first game in next year’s Connacht senior football championship. It will host a number of double-headers involving the senior footballers and hurlers in 2018 as they will have to play all of their games away from home in next year’s National League due to the redevelopment work,” Aidan Thompson explains.
Established five years ago, Foran Construction Ltd is a leading civil engineering and groundworks contracting firm based in West London. The ‘Foran’ in the company name is derived from Ballyforan, which is Aidan’s home village in Co. Roscommon. Aidan, who previously ran another groundworks contracting company, has been domiciled in the English capital for 25 years, while business partner Paul Lavelle – who comes from a commercial background – moved over from Ireland in 2003.
Foran Construction can carry out a wide range of building and groundwork services for commercial and civil engineering projects throughout London and the surrounding areas. Employing 40 people directly and indirectly, including Paul’s father Oliver who has a wealth of experience in groundworks, the company is dedicated to building lasting, trusting relationships with its clients. Foran prides itself on its ability to treat every single project on its own merit and to understand each and every client’s needs.
Committed to high standards of service, quality and customer satisfaction, the company’s goal is to be the most sought-after firm for clients and employees. Health & safety, honesty and integrity and attention to detail are among its core values. Whether you are looking for building contractors, inviting tenders, looking for complete design and build solutions or need help with any aspect of improving your business premises, Foran Construction can assist you.
The company has worked alongside many well-known building contractors, including Bennett Construction UK, Murphy, McAleer & Rushe, Northvale Construction and the J Browne Group, in bringing key projects to fruition. Foran was the main groundworks and civil engineering contractor to the following projects: Stanstead Hampton Hotel by Hilton; Neasdon Depot, London Underground; Heslop Road Basement Construction; Amwell Street; Bupa Clinic, Reading; Back of Walls Student Accommodation, Southampton; Balham Hill; Leman Street Tower Block; Starbucks Coffee; Peter May Stand at the Oval Cricket Ground. Specialist projects have included St. John’s Church in Norwood and Mortlake Crematorium.
Foran Construction has a wide range of machinery and equipment to cater for any job, including excavators (8-22 tonne), dumpers, rollers, compressors as well as a dozen vehicles. One of the long-term goals of the company is to establish an Irish presence by opening an office in Dublin.
But for now, Foran Construction – which sponsors the Heston Gaels ladies and underage teams – is focused on maintaining its steady growth in the south-east of England and continuing to provide the best possible groundworks and civil engineering service around.
Foran Construction Ltd
4 Harlequin Avenue,
Brentford,
Middlesex,
TW8 9EW
Telephone: 020 3362 6861
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.foranconstruction.co.uk
Twitter: @Forancl
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, September 2016, Vol 2 No 5
