Shortlisted for the 2024 Irish Construction Industry Project Manager of the Year Award, Christy Hannon of BAM is an exceptional PM who embraces his role as a team leader, encouraging, motivating and inspiring those around him. Building Ireland sat down with the Wexford native, whose wonderful career with BAM goes back almost a quarter of a century.
The eagerly-awaited 2024 Irish Construction Industry Awards took place at Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre on Thursday night, November 7th, with BAM – who have been central to the delivery of many of Ireland’s flagship infrastructural and building projects for 66 years and counting – shortlisted for no fewer than four major awards.
BAM Ireland were crowned winner in two catergories – the Civil Construction Project of the Year for Derrinlough Wind Farm and and the Excellence in Sustainability – Large award. There were also nominations for the Contractor Education Project of the Year award for Douglas Rochestown Educate Together National School, while Christy Hannon was shortlisted in the prestigious Construction Project Manager of the Year category.
The latter is fitting recognition for a great team leader who worked his way up through the ranks in BAM Ireland since beginning his career with the company in 2000! Over the past twelve months alone, Christy has been Project Manager on two significant infrastructure projects: namely, the award-winning Water-Rock LIHAF Initiative Infrastructure Works near Midleton in County Cork and the ongoing Waterford Public Infrastructure Project.
Very much a team player, it is typical of the man that he immediately shares the credit with his colleagues when asked how it felt to be on the shortlist for Construction Project Manager of the Year: “It’s an honour and a privilege. It’s also flattering that my employer would put me forward for this award.
“However, I’m aware that good projects are not built by one individual … this is recognition of the teams that I have been lucky enough to have been involved in. When you are called the Project Manager, it just means that you are the team leader. Everybody on the team contributes to the end result.”
“We pride ourselves on being a market leader and one of the leading construction companies in Ireland. We’re always looking to enhance our reputation further. The best way to do this is by consistently delivering exceptional projects, but winning awards is obviously also good for the company profile.”
Now a Contracts Manager with BAM, Christy is currently overseeing the Waterford Public Infrastructure Project. This ambitious initiative involves a €170.6 million investment by the government to transform the North Quays of the city. Key project components include: a 200m sustainable bridge connecting the south and north banks of Waterford, which will enhance community connectivity; a new transport hub facilitating seamless travel and improving accessibility; new sections of dual carriageway to enhance traffic flow and connectivity within the city, with pedestrian and cycling facilities being integrated, promoting sustainable modes of transportation.
Upon completion in Q2 2026, the Waterford PIP will redefine the cityscape, providing high-quality transport infrastructure and making navigation easier for residents and visitors alike. The project is on track, with the first year of the three-year build program successfully completed.
An engineer at heart, Christy Hannon is embracing and enjoying the many challenges the Waterford PIP presents. This project is a complex civil engineering undertaking; a combination of urban, marine and rail environments all converging on one site. Christy and the industry-leading BAM team have collated and optimised the competence and experience gathered working in those environments to deliver value-driven solutions.
One of the key features of this landmark project is the 200m long sustainable transport bridge across the river which will prioritise pedestrians and cyclists over electrically powered public transport, with no private vehicle access allowed. The bridge – which is being built in Belgium – will have two bascule leaves that will be operated by using a combination of hydraulics and counterweights. The bridge’s specialised nature involves a convergence of various engineering disciplines: structural, mechanical, electrical, and control. Christy’s role includes managing and coordinating execution and design aspects.
There is a certain happy symmetry to the fact that Christy is currently back working close to home in the South East as he began his career with BAM as a student engineer on the Wexford Bridge refurbishment in 1997. After joining Bam as a graduate in 2000, he has progressed through various roles and projects both in Ireland and abroad over the past 24 years, amassing extensive experience on largescale civil engineering projects, including marine works, dredging, deep tank and cofferdam construction, flood alleviation schemes, motorway and bridge construction, water and wastewater pipelines, and treatment plants.
He was a Project Manager on the multi-award-winning N25 New Ross Bypass incorporating the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge, was Engineering Manager on the Cooling Water Intake project at the Covanta Dublin waste-to-energy facility in Ringsend, was PM responsible for the delivery of the €20m Carrigaline Western Relief Road for Cork County Council from 2021 until 2022, and served as Engineering Manager for a BAM Civil / BAM International JV Design & Construct marine project in Jordan from 2012 until 2014.
Critically, Christy has always viewed construction as being all about the team rather than the individual. As for the ingredients that make a great Project Manager, he comments: “A good Project Manager is, in my mind, a good team leader. Projects are run by and completed by teams, not individuals. At the end of the day, it all comes down to being a good team member and a good team leader.
“I’m always very open, transparent and foster an inclusive environment where every member of the team knows how important they are. Sometimes you will have to step outside of your comfort zone and you have to be prepared to do so.
“From the point of view of delivering for the client, you have to be able to build trustworthy relationships with clients, identify and flag potential risks or problems early and find a way around them. You have to maintain constant dialogue with clients and keep everybody informed at all stages. If you foster those relations and build that trust, then when the next project comes along, hopefully the client will want to work with BAM again.”
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, January, Vol 11 No 1
BAM Ireland, Christy Hannon, featured
