Operating out of Powerstown, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, Mulcahy Construction Ltd is one of the most progressive construction companies in the South East. Building Ireland touched base with founder and Managing Director Joe Mulcahy and David Mulcahy to hear all about the company’s current projects, plans for further expansion and overall hopes going forward.
These are busy times at Mulcahy Construction Ltd and the plan for Joe and David Mulcahy and the rest of the team down in Powerstown, Clonmel is to try and keep things that way.
First established by Joe & Edel Mulcahy in 1992 (and then as a limited venture in 1996), the company has grown year on year to the point where it now employs 42 full-time staff and, combined with indirect, has more than 100 people working for it.
Joe and his wife Edel set-up the business together more than three decades ago and, today, run it alongside their son David whom, having worked in the UK for a stint, joined company on a full-time basis in 2018.
Building Ireland caught up with both Joe and David recently to discuss the ins and outs of the family business, the impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on it and its plans for the months ahead.
“Business has been good,” said David. “We’ve been kept busy and there’s been a lot of projects coming in mostly in the public sector.
“Obviously, we have a challenge with the rising costs at the moment, but business is steady. Overall, it’s been a good year for us and our team.”
A company which prides itself on delivering outstanding quality and design projects, Mulcahy Construction Ltd has a team of excellent, reliable and conscientious professionals and sub-contractors which can fulfil all of its contractual obligations from concept to completion.
Working throughout the commercial, industrial, residential, health and education sectors sees the company immersed in various different projects year-round.
The high standards set by the firm are evident by the fact that David has been shortlisted for Construction Project Manager of the Year Award 2023 at the upcoming Irish Construction Excellence awards in April.
“It was a privilege to work as a project manager on the Cashel Palace Hotel project,” said David, who felt he gained confidence, experience, and the belief in his abilities to have no hesitation in taking on a project of a similar nature in the future. Mulcahy Construction Ltd has garnered experience in elements of construction that they have now added to their existing portfolio of skills on foot of this project.
Mulcahy Construction Ltd are also up for another award in the Leisure category for The Cashel Palace Hotel, which is one of the most prestigious projects carried out within the region for many years. Whilst it was a challenging project, Mulcahy Construction felt that as a company they more than stepped up to the plate and delivered a high-class, premium-quality product that will serve the client and the local area for many years to come.
Since ‘Day One’, Mulcahy Construction Ltd has managed to grow from strength to strength, the Covid-19 pandemic period was a considerable obstacle, however, our business was fortunate to have a number of essential projects which kept majority of the company busy, according to David.
“Projects that had to unfortunately close, such as the Cashel Palace Hotel, proceeded with a lot of design co-ordination and procurement which thankful proved to be very advantageous to the delivery of the project when it returned to site.
“Joe and his team constructed the testing and vaccination centres here locally in Tipperary, along with creating new facilities to relocate staff out of the main hospital to make way for the patients within the main hospital.
“So, we were kept busy on the essential projects for the HSE.”
That considered, it’s no surprise to see Mulcahy Construction Ltd continuing its work for the HSE with numerous healthcare projects on at the present time.
Having previously completed extension works on Clogheen Hospital, Clonmel Hospital MRI Unit, the Ambulance Centre in Dungarvan and recently Haven House in Clonmel, the company has a wealth of experience under its belt when it comes to working on projects within the healthcare sector.
Right now, it’s putting that experience to good use by constructing a new nursing home in Dungarvan and refurbishment of the old St. Michaels building in South Tipperary General Hospital.
“Currently on-going for the HSE at the moment we have a 13-bed nursing home in Dungarvan called ‘Sea Breeze’. That commenced just before Christmas and is hoping to be finished in early 2024,” Joe outlined.
“That’s progressing on and we’re also carrying out a project in South Tipp General Hospital which is a refurbishment of an existing building that will give it another 34 beds.”
He added: “Last year we completed a project in Clonmel called ‘Haven House’ which is a new respite centre that is part of South Tipp General Hospital. It’s a 10-bed unit and it was completed there just before Christmas and Joe is currently completing a project in St Pat’s in Waterford.”
St Patrick’s Hospital is situated along John’s Hill in Waterford and Mulcahy Construction Ltd’s work on the building will see a significant increase in beds for the facility, as Joe explained.
“It’s a total refurbishment of the building which gives them another 18 beds plus utility rooms, canteens, changing rooms and they have a physio room in it as well. Each room has their own ensuite as well,” said the Managing Director.
Busy times indeed.
So, the burning question is, what has been the secret behind the company’s success to date?
How has a small start-up grown into what is now a thriving construction venture which holds a golden reputation amongst its clients?
The way David sees it, so much comes down to the excellent working relationships his father has built up with clientele over the past three decades and taking a hands-on approach from the beginning with them has certainly paid dividends.
“Joe started the business nearly 30 years ago and we’ve a long-standing relationship with a lot of businesses here locally in Clonmel and the South East.” he pointed out.
“Our success is built on having a good team, good suppliers and sub-contractors. We have huge experience within the company and everyone, including Joe and Edel, takes a hands-on approach. Our aim has always been to deliver projects to the highest quality to fulfil our clients’ needs. Our priority is to ensure that all projects are delivered on time, on budget and in the safest possible manner.”
Since its inception, Mulcahy Construction has been thoroughly committed to continuous improvement of safety standards and performance with zero accidents as its target.
Health & Safety is the company’s top priority and significant resources are deployed to maintain a safe working environment for all employees
Its excellent team ensure the business delivers all of its projects on time, on budget and with zero accidents.
In 2023, the company plans to add five more to its staff in Powerstown, having already brought onboard four new members over the past 12 months.
“It’s steady growth and, at the moment, we’ve 42 employees directly employed and, if you take it indirect, it’s probably in the region of 100,” said David.
“So, we’ve a good crew of staff and, at the end of the day, our growth comes down to them as well and having a good team around us.”
As it stands, Mulcahy Construction’s books are full for the foreseeable and, therefore, the months ahead will be about delivering more first class projects for clients in the same manner which makes the company first choice for so many.
“We’ll be hoping to maintain what we have. Our order book is fairly full for the year and we’ll just try and maintain the same volume of work.
“Like everyone at the moment, we’re just making sure that we don’t bite off more than we can chew. We’ll look just look to manage and maintain what we have this year,” David concluded.
Mulcahy Construction Ltd are registered contractors with S.E.I. Ireland and are members of the Irish Homebuilders Association and the Master Builders & Contractors Association.
Mulcahy Construction Ltd.
Powerstown,
Clonmel,
Co Tipperary
Tel: +353 (0)52 612 4599
Fax: +353 (0)52 618 2482
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, May 2023, Vol 9 No 5
