Connecting people to power since 1987, H. Shiels is a leading electrical contracting firm based in Dublin. The company works in all aspects of the electrical industry, including commercial, retail outlets, shopping centres, office fit-outs, schools and colleges, religious orders, hospitals, filling stations and convenience stores, heritage and listed buildings, swimming pools and recreational centres, hotels, financial institutions, Dublin Airport and public contract works.
Managing director Harry Shiels has nearly 50 years’ experience in the industry going back to the late 1960s when he served his apprenticeship with Patrick Lynch Ltd, which was one of the oldest and most respected firms in the trade. “It was a fantastic place to serve an apprenticeship,” he fondly recalls.
Harry worked extremely hard at learning his trade and perfecting it, and with the help of the company, went back to night school to further his education. He graduated with an engineering degree and after a spell as a charge-hand, was made a contracts manager looking after medium to large contracts at the age of just 24.
The affable Dubliner continued to progress within Patrick Lynch Ltd and at the end of 1975 was appointed to the board of directors and also became the company’s first contracts director with responsibility for large contracts such as Beaumont Hospital, Wheatfield Prison, MEPW Shopping Centre in Dun Laoghaire, Central Bank in Dame Street, Currency Centre in Sandyford and the John Lang multi-office development in Kildare Street, which was the biggest office development in the country at the time and is now known as Agricultural House.
During this time, Patrick Lynch Ltd had about 300 electricians on its books and Harry was responsible for all the coordination meetings with the trade unions who he has always had a good relationship with.
In 1979, Shiels was appointed assistant managing director of Patrick Lynch and was instrumental in setting up the Middle-East operation in Doha, Qatar, which was a consortium between Patrick Lynch and a very influential local Arab family. In addition, he was involved in overseeing the running of the contracts and selection of staff and procurement.Not long after, he was involved in establishing the London arm and assisting in the running of same.
A desire to set up his own company led to Harry resigning from the board in 1986. His parting from the company was amicable and he remains friends with both the former managing director and company secretary of Patrick Lynch Ltd, which was subsequently sold to the Jones Group plc. H. Shiels Ltd came into being in September 1987 and has gone from strength to strength since then. It has survived three recessions, including the most recent one which was by far the worst in Harry’s opinion.
Using all his skills and expertise, Harry has built up a wonderful and energetic team of management, office staff, and technical staff and site teams. The company currently employs 84 site staff, which is made up of foreman charge-hands, electricians and apprentices. In the interest of strengthening and ensuring the company would continue to grow, H. Shiels appointed three shareholding directors in July 2005 – the late Noel Madden as contracts director, Gerry Geoghegan, also as contracts director, and John Sexton CPA as financial controller. Two years ago, Philip Whelan and Brian Foran – who served their apprenticeships with the company – joined Harry, Gerry and John on the board of directors.
The following are some of H.Shiels most valued clients:
H.Shiels Limited is made up of the following divisions and departments and the following are responsible for same;
– Mr Gerry Geoghegan senior contracts director is mainly responsible for Dublin Airport together with his team on site
– Mr Philip Whelan heads up a contracts division together with his team
– Mr Brian Foran is in charge of all work with Topaz Fuel and any new site they develop, Brian is also responsible for the Office of Public Works helpdesk panel which we are a member of together with any contracts that emanate from that an last but not least Brian also has a number of other contracts that he is responsible for.
– Our contracts manager Mr. Keith McGarry is responsible for maintenance and small jobbing and has a team of mobile engineers.
– Mr Alan Kelly B.Eng. electrical engineer is responsible for all documentation and providing technical backup, suppliers’ manuals etc… and he is ably assisted with our CAD engineer.
– Mr Paul Casey is our chief estimator supported by a number of estimators and he is also responsible for purchasing
– Mr John Sexton CPA financial controller & director is responsible for all matters involving finance, debtors and creditors etc… and his assistant Jean Dunne
– Mr Shiels P.A Mildred McDermott who is with the company 26 years is our office manager and supports all the above.
– Our in house safety manager Mr Alan Kelly B.Eng. who is also our Safety in construction co-ordinator is assisted and audited by our external health and safety consultants Olive Safety.
– Mr Dermot O’Carroll apprentice and development officer.
At the core of H. Shiels’ success is its steadfast adherence to quality which is why customers small and large repeatedly select the company – Indeed H.Shiels Limited is dedicated to fully understanding and fulfilling its client’s requirements and exceeding their expectations thereby enhancing its own position in the marketplace.
Whatever the Job the company’s sole objective is to safely and successfully complete the project to meet clients’ needs on time and within budget
Harry concludes by stating the quality and services will continue to be the company’s focus in the future because at H. Shiels Limited they believe there is nothing more gratifying than a satisfied customer.
In summary, H. Shiels success is based upon its dedicated and talented staff and the high level of personal service it provides and the tangible contribution it makes to all its clients projects.
Shiels Ltd
Unit 18 B,
Goldenbridge
Industrial Estate,
Inchicore,
Dublin 8.
Telephone: 01 4540441
Fax: 01 4530312
Emergency 24-hour callout number: 01 4920139
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, January 2017, Vol 3 No 1
