Specialising in fencing and synthetic sports pitches, the JNC Group (JNC Cummins & Co Ltd) is one of Ireland’s most successful family businesses. Incorporating JNC Fencing and Premier Pitches, it is a one-stop shop for all your fencing and artificial playing field requirements.
Founded in Cashel, Co. Tipperary in 1990 by CEO Jim (James Noel) Cummins, the JNC Group has grown to employ over 50 staff and is recognised as the largest security fencing contractor in Ireland and a leading installer of synthetic sports surfaces. Jim is joined in the business by his brother John (Managing Director), wife Muriel (Co-director) and son Adrian (Co-director and Business Development Manager).
“We’re the number one supplier and installer of security fencing and synthetic sports pitches in the country,” Adrian proudly states.
“My father initially started out supplying and installing farm-style timber rail fencing. He then branched into mesh fencing after that and JNC soon established itself as the market leader in industrial security and sports fencing. We also specialise in steel engineering of railings and gates. Everything is done inhouse – manufacturing, powder coating and installation. We buy in raw steel products from different suppliers and can tailor and design fencing to our clients’ specific needs.
“Premier Pitches grew out of JNC Fencing. Having installed fencing for other sports pitch providers for a number of years, we decided to offer the complete package ourselves. With further expansion and recruitment into the synthetic sports pitch market, we established JNC Premier Pitches in 2016 and we’ve since gone from constructing two pitches in our first year to consistently constructing 45 to 50 pitches annually for the past two years. Separately, our parent company JNC Fencing manufactured, supplied and installed over 30,000m of palisade security fencing and installed almost 25,000m of mesh fencing for various clients throughout 2020. The two businesses go hand-in-hand and continue to go from strength to strength.”
As a next-generation security fencing specialist, JNC Fencing distributes all over Ireland, the UK as well as to parts of Europe. Outstanding workmanship, service and reliability are the hallmarks of the company which is committed to using advanced technologies and methods to cost effectively and efficiently manufacture and install steel fencing products. JNC’s manufacturing facilities and processes are safe and environmentally-friendly, with the company having recently achieved ISO 45001 Health & Safety Management accreditation.
JNC Fencing can supply all leading mesh, railing and palisade fencing panels. Any specific requirements can be made to order, including standard, automated and sliding gates. The family business operates a modern powder-coating facility which is also based in Cashel. JNC believes in offering its products at the most competitive prices and terms available. With its own transport and delivery system, purpose-built offices and in-house capabilities, exceptional customer service and care is assured at all times.
The company supplies security fencing products to schools, distribution centres, data centres, wind turbine farms, business parks, main contractors, airports, railway companies, local authorities and even zoos. Some of its clients include An Post, DAA (Dublin Airport Authority), Iarnrod Eireann, Irish Water, John Paul Construction, IDA Ireland, ABM, ESB Networks, Department of Defence, Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park. They have also supplied and installed spectator fencing for some of the top inter-county GAA grounds in the country, including Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cusack Park (Ennis) and Pearse Stadium.
“We are currently just starting works at the new Carrigaline Education Campus in Cork for MMD Construction. This project will consist of the supply and installation of 2,000m of mesh fencing in total. The project will be one of the largest ever school developments in Munster once complete,” Adrian continues.
“Some of our more recent high-end security fencing projects include the supply and installation of almost 2,000m of mesh security fencing at the new Lidl Distribution Centre in Newbridge for John Paul Construction which was shortlisted for overall construction project of the year.
“Towards the end of 2020, we completed almost 2,500m of highly-specialised bespoke security palisade fencing for main contractor PJ Hegarty & Sons on a data centre project in Dublin.
“Following the successful completion of this project with Hegarty’s, we were able to secure another large data centre fencing project for John Paul Construction which is currently live. This project involves the supply and installation of over 1,800m of bespoke spike-top palisade security fencing, which was manufactured, and powder-coated at our facility in Tipperary.”
JNC Premier Pitches has quickly grown to become one of the largest installers of 3G synthetic pitches and sports and security fencing in Ireland. All work on any artificial pitch begins at the research and design stage. First, a site visit is scheduled to carry out a full assessment of potential issues, drainage, ground conditions and any specific build requirements requested by the client. Following a site assessment, JNC’s qualified quantity surveyors begin drafting a pricing document. A Bill of Quantities (BOQ) is then returned to the client with each item individually priced transparently.
Once the client has reviewed the BOQ and is happy to proceed, a second meeting is arranged to proceed with the signing of a tailored Premier Pitches or client-drafted contract. Details include schedule of payments, project commencement dates, full project programme and a finalised BOQ.
JNC Premier Pitches offers the entire package, from design and planning, groundworks, drainage and floodlighting to full civil packages, fencing, pitch maintenance, pitch certification and a range of ball-retention netting. Delivering these services with an unrivalled level of quality has made Premier Pitches the ‘go-to’ contractor in the Irish synthetic sports surface and fencing market.
Recent projects carried out by JNC Premier Pitches include Dr Morris Park, Thurles Co. Tipperary, Semple Stadium technical areas, Holycross GAA, Co. Tipperary, Tyrone GAA Centre of Excellence, Rathcoole Boys FC, Co. Dublin FIFA approved pitch, Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club, Co. Dublin, Stillorgan Hockey Club/ St Raphaela’s Co. Dublin, Straffan GAA, Co. Kildare, St Declan’s GAA, Ardmore Co. Waterford, Lisgoold GAA, Co. Cork, Blackrock GAA, Co. Cork and Inagh-Kilnamona GAA, Co. Clare.
“We’ve also just completed a 14,000 m2 regulation size synthetic pitch which is fully certified to the latest GAA performance standards for Bishopstown GAA in Co. Cork. This is an amazing facility for any club and serves as a real centrepiece project for Premier Pitches,” Adrian explains.
“Additionally, we completed a FIFA approved synthetic soccer pitch for St Patrick’s Boys Athletic, Co. Carlow and another FIFA-approved pitch just five minutes from this at Killeshin FC, Co. Laois. Despite the disruption to business due to COVID-19 restrictions, 2020 was quite a successful year for the company to be involved in projects of this magnitude and we are looking to build on this again in 2021.
“We’re a preferred supplier to several GAA county boards and some of the most high-profile clubs around. Our products can be found in the newly-redeveloped Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork and Semple Stadium in Thurles where we converted the existing grass sideline and technical areas to Astroturf to reduce wear and tear during the busy inter-county season. Our logo is stitched into the synthetic surface along the sideline at Semple Stadium and can often be seen on TV, which we are particularly proud of.”
JNC Premier Pitches’ artificial grass products are fully certified to all required sporting standards, including those of FIFA, GAA, World Rugby, FIH and Tennis. From design and planning to installation, the JNC team has got you covered.
“We invested heavily in new machinery when Premier Pitches was set up and now have a fleet that includes a CAT D3 laser-guided bulldozer and four Takeuchi excavators for various groundworks. We also purchased a range of specialist synthetic pitch machinery from the company SMG, including an SMG Turfmuncher to carry out synthetic pitch resurfacing projects. This machine allows for the reuse and recycling of the old synthetic grass and crumbed rubber, significantly reducing waste by-products from old pitches”
“Looking to the year ahead, we have some significant expansion works planned. At the moment, we have two separate yards for manufacturing and powder-coating which poses its problems. We are looking to expand yard space at our powder-coating facility just outside Cashel and centralise our production line which will assist in running a more streamline process from manufacture to delivery of materials on-site.”
Adrian concludes by thanking JNC Fencing / JNC Premier Pitches’ clients and suppliers for all their support. He also praises the staff for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
“Our people are one of our greatest strengths. We have very experienced staff, some of who have been with the company for over 20 years. At the end of the day, we can only facilitate and put the processes and plans in place to carry out these projects. From project managers and general office staff to foremen and labourers, the guys on the ground cannot be praised enough. They are all extremely dedicated in achieving our collective goal which is to provide quality in all aspects of our work for a competitive price.”
Due to the nature of a family-business and the legacy factor that accompanies it, the phrase ‘you’re only as good as your last job’ is an ethos that carries throughout our company culture.”
JNC Fencing / JNC Premier Pitches
Mayfield,
Cashel,
Co. Tipperary.
Telephone: +353 (0)62 62214
Fax: +353 (0)62 62947
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Web: www.jncfence.com / www.sportspitch.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, April, Vol 7 No 4
JNC Fencing / JNC Premier Pitches
