Cavan contractor Luke Walsh has built up an exceptional portfolio of new build and refurbishment construction projects over the past two decades and more. Masterful craftsmanship is a given, with every project meticulously delivered to the highest levels, both aesthetically and in terms of energy efficiency.
Luke Walsh has worked in construction for more than a quarter of a century and counting. Today, the highly-regarded Cavan contractor fronts Luke Walsh Construction, which has been responsible for building and reimagining some of the finest residential properties in the Breffni County.
A carpenter by trade, imbued by a keen eye for the most exacting detail, Luke invests his heart and soul into every home he’s entrusted with, resulting invariably in high-performing, visually-stunning, value-added finished projects. One of the many secrets of Luke’s success in consistently delivering outstanding residential projects is that he keeps strong lines of communication open with the client throughout the course of the building or renovation works:
“For me, the most important thing is to maintain good communication with the client,” the Ballyconnell man states. “A lot of younger people today know what they want but at the same time don’t know what they want, because they wouldn’t have much experience of construction. So you have to listen to them and work with them and answer any questions they might have.
“I try to share the expertise and experience I have with my clients as much as possible. Sometimes they might ask what appears like a stupid question but it’s never stupid – I’d invite people to ask me questions and work with me. I’d definitely insist on good lines of communication with all my clients all the way through. At the end of the day, we are working together towards a common goal – you have to be genuine and guide the client in the right direction as much as possible.”
Originally a carpenter, Luke has been out on his own for 26 years. A member of the National Guild of Master Craftsmen, he got into general building 22 years ago and hasn’t looked back. “Coming from a carpentry background has stood to me – it gives you a better understanding of getting things square and precise and tidy and making sure everything is in its rightful place. Most of the work we do at the moment is private dwellings and we cover everything from new builds to home upgrades for people with disabilities, renovations, extensions, retrofits and roofing…”
Also with a proven track record in commercial construction, Luke has built some of the most striking and distinctive new homes in County Cavan, many of them high-end and luxurious, always with an eye for detail. At Carrickaboy, Crosskeys for example, he recently built two new homes adjacent to one another – one half-clad in grey metal sheeting, the other an equally magnificent architectural design brought to life by master craftsmanship of the highest calibre.
“I’ve built all over Cavan and thankfully don’t have to travel any further,” he confirms. “I’m pretty well-known locally at this stage and operate predominantly within a 15-20-minute radius of home which is handy. A good bit of the work comes through recommendations from a few highly-respected local architects: men like Donal McPhillips in Derrylin, Michael Fitzpatrick in Butlersbridge and Micheal Maguire in Ballyconnell.
“The SEAI grant work is a big thing now, too, as well as retrofitting as part of the derelict house grant. Homeowners can make significant savings if they avail of one of those grants, or sometimes both of them.”
A man who prefers to be on site getting stuck in rather than sat in front of a computer screen, Luke has never had to advertise as he continues to get work the old-school way, based on the quality of the projects previously delivered. No need for shameless self-promotion when the work speaks for itself!
“A lot of my work comes from word of mouth,” he confirms. “I could be working for one family member and then get another job from another family member. I don’t need to advertise or to have signage on the van.
“Word of mouth is the oldest form of advertising and it’s also the most effective because if people get a good recommendation they can go and see the previous client or look at their property to see what we can do. A flashy website can look great in theory but it’s often built by someone living 3,000 miles away whereas with word of mouth from clients and referrals from architects, the work can be seen and the proof is there.
“It’s working alright for me, anyway, and I’m more than happy to continue this way moving forward. When the crash happened, we were advertising a lot and it definitely didn’t work. Word of mouth brings in far more jobs and, as I said, the SEAI work is big at the minute. While a lot of contractors still aren’t registered for it, I’ve been registered with them for 14 years.”
Directly employing a tight crew of five or six to look after roofing, steelwork and final-fix carpentry amongst other things, Luke Walsh Construction also uses a crew of around ten or twelve tried and trusted subcontractors. “We bring in subbies for the plumbing, plastering, electrical works and groundworks, and I tend to use the same lads all the time because they know the cut of my accent and what I’m looking for when it comes to quality and timeframe.”
As well as communicating clearly and openly with clients and subbies, Luke also collaborates with all other stakeholders to ensure that each and every project is delivered to everybody’s complete satisfaction. “I have a good rapport with architects and engineers and am constantly communicating with them and updating them,” he concludes. “After that, I do pride myself on attention to detail, as every builder should do.”
Luke Walsh Construction Ltd.,
Ballyconnell,
County Cavan.
Tel: 049 9526803
Mobile: 087 2468191
Email: lukewalshconstruction@yahoo.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, April 2025, Vol 11 No 4
