For a decade and counting, Stelga Construction has been delivering a wide range of industry-leading building projects, invariably with a strict adherence to quality workmanship and professionalism to consistently achieve absolute customer satisfaction. We got an insight into this exceptional multifaceted operation from founder / proprietor Damien Brannick.
Since its inception in 2013, Stelga Construction Ltd. has built up an exemplary track record for completing a diverse mix of top-class residential and construction projects across counties Dublin, Meath and Kildare predominantly.
Whether operating as main contractor or developer on said projects, the team at Stelga pride themselves on always providing high-quality work, safely, on time and within budget.
From their own developments and residential new builds, extensions and renovations to the regeneration of buildings affected by coastal erosion, metal roofing upgrades on religious buildings, and period restorations of listed buildings, Stelga has massed vast experience of all aspects of the construction industry, maintaining immaculate sites and unflinchingly producing meticulous, accomplished workmanship on every project undertaken.
A carpenter by trade and the epitome of a consummate construction professional, founder Damien Brannick is fastidious when it comes to delivery and the exacting standards he insists upon are the hallmark of every Stelga project. For Damien, unwavering craftsmanship is a given and it all begins with maintaining a clean, tidy and organised workspace:
“Cleanliness is key, and having respect for your neighbours,” the Kildare native stresses. “Always be aware of your surroundings and be respectful of those within proximity to where you are working. For any builder, as well as doing the work to high standards, cleanliness and safety should be paramount. I always emphasise to my men how important it is to be polite to neighbours and as respectful as possible to everyone in their vicinity.”
Stelga Construction generates direct employment for an in-house crew of ten in addition to an extended team of tried and trusted subcontractors. “We do all the blockwork, carpentry and general labour ourselves and use a dependable core of subbies – plumbers, electricians, plasterers and groundworks contractors.
“I’m very particular about the subcontractors I use. They have to meet the high standards we expect and I’d go back to the same lads time and time again. My own men are all vastly experienced and they have all been with me for a long time. Some are here since I started out and all of them are here for two years or more.”
Damien has worked in the industry for almost a quarter of a century. He served his time as a carpenter and offered carpentry as a sole trader before moving into construction and starting up Stelga Construction as a limited company. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength on the back of unconditionally delivering excellent workmanship.
One of the first projects Stelga worked on was specialist upgrade and renovation work at the seaside Coliemore apartment block in Dalkey. This apartment block had been built ten years earlier and the wrong render had been used, so seawater was corroding the plaster. Working on behalf of Wyse Property Management, Stelga upgraded and safeguarded the building by applying a special silicon render.
The company has also been active in developing its own sites and this is an area into which Damien can envisage further expansion moving forward. “In 2017, we bought a derelict pub in Slane called the Grangegeeth Inn,” he reflects. “We renovated that and the adjoining house into a pub / restaurant with a six-bedrroom guesthouse. We retained that property and run it ourselves.
“We’re currently building a one-off house in Santry, which is also our own development, and we have a site there for two more houses. As well as that, we have some rental properties in Dublin which we built and kept. To complement our own developments, we also take on occasional one-off new builds and extensions.”
Stelga Construction has also worked extensively at the world-renowned Staffordstown Stud in Waynestown, County Meath, where they hold a maintenance contract to deliver high-end work for owner Kirsten Rausing. The vast range of projects carried out here down through the years includes a largescale renovation of the main residence – a 200-year-old listed building.
In an industry where previously completed projects represent the best advertising of all, commendations don’t come much bigger! “The stud farm is home to some of the most successful racehorses in the world, which are worth a lot of money, and everything has to be perfect,” Damien relates. “You have to exercise unerring attention to detail. You can’t even leave a stone on the ground as it could go up into one of the horse’s hooves and cause major damage. We really enjoy that work and thrive on it. Again, cleanliness and respect are a big thing.”
Between both their own developments and main contractor work, Stelga Construction are very busy at present with a strong order book in front of them going into the latter part of 2023. The proprietor sees scope for growth and is also keen to tweak and fine-tune the business in the coming months and years, with the ultimate goal of focusing exclusively on their own developments:
“We’ll try to grow and fine-tune it,” he concludes. “I want to move away from doing work for others and just concentrate on having our own sites, with enough work there to keep us going. At the moment, we’re taking on the other work for cash flow purposes but in the future I’d ideally like to focus on buying sites and building houses, as well as keeping on the maintenance work at Staffordstown Stud,
“I’m also planning to renovate the Grangegeeth Inn Pub, Restaurant and Guesthouse again in late 2023 / early 2024 and to add a couple of rooms to the guesthouse. Slane is a very popular wedding destination and there is great demand for accommodation there. We have plenty of work to keep us busy, thankfully, and we’re always on the look-out for new opportunities.”
Synonymous with quality and cleanliness, Stelga Construction has come a long way in ten short years and the future looks decidedly bright for this standard-setting builder-developer.
Stelga Construction Ltd.,
Carraig Beag,
Longtown,
Kilcock,
County Meath.
Tel: 01 6519725
Mobile: 086 1387714
Email: [email protected]
Web: stelga.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, October 2023, Vol 9 No 10
