Gary Killeen Heating & Plumbing cater for all aspects of plumbing works, from bathroom renovations right up to new builds. Gary Killeen set up his business five years ago and it has gone from strength to strength ever since.
“I went out on my own in late December 2016,” Gary revealed in conversation with Building Ireland.
“I was working for a contractor for about 10 years before that. About a year after that I took on one lad and it’s just after growing from there. I currently employ nine, including myself, and we have five vans on the road.”
Spare time is at a premium for Gary and his hard-working team as demand for their services is high at this point of time. Of course, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Probably the main aspect of our work at the moment is residential,” he outlined, “we do a lot of social housing schemes for Premier Engineering.
“We have been very fortunate to develop strong relationship with builders such as the aforementioned Premier Engineering as well as Matt Tynan Construction, MMT Construction, Blacklough Construction, Benny Kennedy Contracts and SMJ Construction while we also do a good bit of work for Sola Energy Solutions in Templemore. We do a lot of retrofitting to houses for the SEAI Home Improvement grants.”
Distance is no object when it comes to work for GK Plumbing & Heating and their vans and logo can currently be seen on sites as far north as Drogheda, Co Louth.
“We obviously do a lot of local work around Thurles but we also travel around the country. For example, we do a lot of social housing schemes as well as apartments for Blacklough Construction, who are based in Blanchardstown, in and around Dublin.
“At the moment, we are working on a 100-unit scheme for Premier Engineering on Newfoundwell Road in Drogheda and working on two blocks of apartments for Blacklough Construction in Kilkenny. We’re also site on a Tipperary County Council estate for Joe Davis in Templetuouhy, Thurles and 13 lodges and guest house in Borris House, Carlow for MMT Construction
“Then we have several jobs on with Sola Energy and Benny Kennedy Contracts as well at the moment while we’re starting into a new housing estate for SMJ in Two-Mile Borris as well.”
So, is it fair to say that things are busy at the moment? “Very!” Gary replied without hesitation.
He continued: “Covid did affect us big time but I was able to keep the majority of lads going. There were only one or two estates that were open during Covid but we got to finish them off. We’re back now and everyone wants us now, the estates are open again, so it’s full steam ahead.
“We’re just after handing over Dunsoghly Green on Dunsoghly Road in Finglas for Premier Engineering and another project in Trim, Co Meath for Premier Engineering as well as well as Nuncio Park in Nuncio Road in Kilkenny, which was a 28-house development, for Blacklough.”
What are the secret ingredients of GK Plumbing & Heating’s winning formula?
“Basically, we’re a good tight knit company and I try to look after all my lads as best I can. When there’s a call, no matter what time of day or night it is, it will be fixed, it will be looked after.
“We have to maintain the sites for 12 months and those calls come in at any time. When they do we drop tools and we’re gone and that’s what people like about us. Any issues are sorted straight away that day, evening or night. It has to be done and that’s it.
“We also pride ourselves on providing a professional and reliable service to locals. We never forget about the people around Thurles.”
Gary singled out his workforce for special praise: “I wouldn’t have my business if I didn’t have the lads that I have with me. They’re willing to travel to where the work is and get the job done to the satisfaction of our clients.”
Having come a long way in a short space of time, Gary has no intention of resting on his laurels and he revealed that he is always on the lookout for opportunities to expand his ever-burgeoning business.
“Look, I’m the type of lad who is not happy where I am. I am always looking to better myself and if I see an opportunity I’ll go after it, I’ll find a way around it and if that means I have to take on more lads, I will. I’m never happy just standing still, I want to better myself and go further afield. Nothing ever fazes me and we’ll do what we have to do.
“Every year we’re expanding more, I just put my mind down to it and get it done,” he concluded.
Gary Killeen Heating & Plumbing
Two Mile Borris
Thurles
Co Tipperary
Tel: 087 942 3783
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, October, Vol 7 No 10
