Not many building contractors have been around since 1916, which was the year of the Easter Rising, but P McGovern & Son Ltd has and continues to go from strength to strength over a century later.
Based in the village of Bawnboy in west Co. Cavan, the third-generation family-owned business has a long and proud tradition of excellent craftsmanship and quality work. Attention to detail, value-for-money and a commitment to working closely with clients and architects to deliver total satisfaction are other hallmarks of what is one of Ireland’s oldest construction firms.
Health & Safety is at the core of the business, and never more so than in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. From concept to completion, the McGovern team is with you every step of the way, ensuring that every project is designed and built to your specific needs, and that there are no hidden or extra costs involved. Whether your next project is a new build, extension or renovation, P McGovern & Son’s one-stop shop approach will ensure that both the design and building processes are smooth, comfortable and hassle-free. The Cavan contractor’s reputation for quality construction and ability to complete projects on time and within the agreed budget is borne out by the high volume of repeat business and referrals it receives from satisfied clients.
The McGovern family are rightly proud of their longevity in the building trade. The company has served the locality and the surrounding counties of Leitrim, Sligo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Longford and Meath well for the past 104 years. Founded by Patrick McGovern Snr, P McGovern & Son’s first project in 1916 was the construction of a bridge in Corlough for the Bawnboy Union. Patrick Snr and his small crew went on to build three dance halls in Swanlinbar, two of which are still in use today, and the McGovern name has been synonymous with top-class construction ever since.
Patrick Snr’s son James, who is now 85, ran the business for many years before passing it down to his sons and current owners, Patrick and Joe. The brothers took over in 2003 when P McGovern & Son also became a limited company. The McGovern’s have purposely kept the business small to ensure quality over quantity.
“Small is beautiful in our eyes,” Joe says.
“Instead of going down the route of big developments, we’ve stuck to contracting which is what we do best. We never got too big; we stayed grounded and humble.
“We employ seven people directly, including Gerry Goldrick who has been with us for 48 years. Our staff are a mix of all-round tradesmen, carpenters and groundworks personnel. We sub-contract the plastering, plumbing, electrical and block-laying to the same tried and trusted tradesmen. By employing highly-skilled people, working closely with leading architects and engineers, and using only the very best building products, we’re able to deliver the highest quality construction to our clients.”
P McGovern & Son offers a wide range of general building and maintenance services, specialising in new builds, schools, halls, churches, home extensions, renovations, office refurbishments, heritage work and local authority construction. The contractor has clients in both the private and public sectors, including the OPW (Office of Public Works), Department of Agriculture and Cavan County Council.
“We do a lot of work for the OPW,” Joe explains.
“We’ve recently renovated Edgeworthstown Garda Station and completed upgrade work to the cells in Kells Garda Station for the OPW. We also have contracts to carry out ongoing maintenance for the OPW’s Sligo, Roscommon and Dublin divisions, which includes Collins Barracks in Benburb Street, as well as for Cavan County Council and the Department of Agriculture in Cavan town. We provide a 24-hour callout service for the OPW and local authority projects and clients.
“We’re currently renovating 15 apartments for St Vincent De Paul in Cavan town, constructing a physiotherapy clinic in Ballyconnell and carrying out a private house extension in Corlough. We can turn our hand to any job. We turn the sod and turn the key.”
A member of the CIF (Construction Industry Federation), P McGovern & Son has many years’ experience in the conservation and restoration of heritage buildings. Past projects in this area include Manorhamilton Church of Ireland, Kiltyclogher Church of Ireland, Bundoran Church of Ireland and Sligo Masonic Lodge.
“We re-roofed the churches in Manorhamilton and Kiltyclogher, and replastered inside the sanctuary of the church in Bundoran. All our staff are trained to carry out heritage work and restorations to a high standard,” Joe continues.
P McGovern & Son closed for seven weeks during the coronavirus lockdown in Spring 2020 although Patrick and Joe were called on to do a few days of essential work during that period: “We installed protective plastic screens in garda stations and county council offices,” said Patrick who went on to explain the ongoing effects of the pandemic on the sector.
“COVID is having an impact on us in terms of getting materials. It has slowed down the supply chain and that’s becoming a big issue not just for us, but for everyone involved in construction.”
With Patrick’s son Padraig studying Quantity Surveyor, P McGovern & Son could soon become a fourth-generation family business. The long-established company would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers and suppliers for their continued support, and its staff for their dedication, skill and hard work.
P McGovern & Son Ltd
Corresmongan,
Bawnboy,
Co. Cavan.
Telephone: 049 9523110
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, April, Vol 7 No 4
