Leaders in construction evolution, Ganson Building & Civil Engineering Contractors Ltd was delighted to be a finalist in the 2025 Irish Construction Industry (ICI) Awards for its successful delivery of a brand-new secondary school in Co. Meath.
Dedicated to delivering high-quality services and completing projects to the highest building standards on time and within budget, Ganson was shortlisted in the Education Project of the Year category for O’Carolan College in Nobber, Co. Meath. Launched in 2014, the Irish Construction Industry (ICI) Awards recognise, encourage and celebrate original and innovative contractors, businesses, teams, consultants and projects that demonstrate excellence in the built environment.
O’Carolan College represents a transformative education project undertaken by the award-winning main contractor on behalf of the Department of Education. The €28 million development spans a gross floor area of 7,576 sq. m. and was completed between May 2023 and May 2025. The scope of work involved the full demolition of the existing school buildings, including prefabricated classrooms, and the single-storey former metalwork building which is listed on the record of protected structures.
Constructed to deliver a modern, flexible and inclusive learning environment, the new school is a huge milestone for the community, having been approved in 2014 with planning permission granted in 2018. After years of delays, setbacks and even a pandemic, Nobber finally has a school to be proud of.
“It’s definitely got more of a ‘wow factor’ than most schools,” enthuses Niall McKenna, who was Contracts Manager on the project.
“The intricate design and high spec’ finish combined with the main entrance on the middle floor of the three-storey building makes it stand out. The principal Brian Goggins, teaching staff and students are over the moon with their new school. It will serve the community well for many years to come.
“We were delighted to hand over the main phase in May as Brian was keen for the students to get a feel for their new surroundings before the start of the new school year in late August ’25. We’re very proud of the fact that no school days were lost during the demolition of the existing school and the construction of the new one.
“We went for the precast construction model with O’Carolan College. Supplied by Kilsaran, the precast structures gave us programme certainty in that they are made offsite in a factory setting, meaning we weren’t so dependent on the weather.
“The Department of Education insists on quality and we’re proud to have delivered a quality product. Following the completion of the main building, we moved onto the second phase which encompasses the outdoor areas.”
Niall adds: “At the official opening ceremony, the Minister for Education and local woman Helen McEntee took great delight in welcoming the students into their new school where she enjoyed meeting and greeting the students and staff in their new classrooms.
“We’ve enjoyed an excellent working relationship with all of the stakeholders, including the Department of Education, the school staff and the entire design team led by Oppermann Architects. And not forgetting our subcontractors and suppliers. It was a real team effort between them and our own amazing team.”
The internal accommodation includes 20 general classrooms, five specialist classrooms, four science laboratories, two art and craft rooms, a home economics room, three construction and engineering workshops, a double-height library, a general-purpose hall, a multi-purpose hall and a full suite of administrative, pastoral, staff and support spaces.
A dedicated special educational needs suite has also been integrated. Circulation, plant and storage zones are carefully distributed throughout the building to optimise operational efficiency and accessibility.
The extensive site development includes a 52-bay car park, reconfigured vehicular and pedestrian access, fire brigade access, sports pitches, four fenced play courts, hard landscaping, an enclosed sensory garden and a full site boundary upgrade with planting and screening.
The Department of Education commissioned the project to address rising enrolment and outdated infrastructure at O’Carolan College. Given its rural context and the presence of a protected structure, careful planning and sequencing were essential. The programme was delivered over 24 months, commencing with enabling and demolition works before transitioning to the construction of the new facility.
The project required particular sensitivity in its early stages due to the demolition of the aforementioned single-storey former metalwork building listed in the record of protected structures. Engagement with heritage consultants and Meath County Council ensured full legal and environmental compliance, while maintaining construction momentum. A robust programme was developed using Asta Powerproject, aligned with Department of Education milestones and the academic calendar. Careful sequencing ensured utility diversions, earthworks and structural packages progressed smoothly and safely without delay.
Described as a “game-changer for students and families” in the North Meath area, the new O’Carolan College embodies a benchmark in rural education infrastructure. It brings together contemporary design, functionality and a high-quality finish that reflects the best standards in modern school delivery.
The building design is sensitive to the surrounding context, while delivering a bold, future-focused educational facility. Despite the complexity of the build, which included heritage demolition, SEN integration, extensive siteworks and stakeholder consultation, the project has maintained exemplary build standards and coordination throughout.
Ganson maintained a proactive approach to quality assurance, with digital tracking and inspections conducted throughout all phases. Client feedback confirmed high levels of satisfaction with execution and finish. The contractor’s rigorous quality assurance regime encompassed digital snagging, progressive handover packaging and frequent site inspections. This ensured that specialist systems such as PV arrays, Passenger Lift and security installations were installed to the highest standards.
Health & Safety was a top priority throughout the project. The site recorded zero lost-time incidents (LTIs), reflecting the comprehensive safety culture embedded by Ganson from project outset. Sustainability was also integral to the project strategy, with the design and construction fully aligned to Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards. The new facility features high-performance building fabric, airtightness detailing and efficient building services, including LED lighting and advanced building management systems.
Furthermore, photovoltaic solar panels are installed on south-facing roof slopes to supplement energy usage on-site.
With over 20 years’ experience, Ganson Building & Civil Engineering Ltd has built up significant resources and expertise to a current workload of over €100m. Since its inception, the company has delivered large and complex projects in many sectors, including healthcare, education, commercial, retail, tourism, high-tech, refurbishment and civil engineering infrastructural works.
Trusted by hundreds of Irish clients and certified to ISO 19001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 45001:2018 standards, Ganson is one of Ireland’s most progressive building and civil engineering contractors, undertaking projects throughout Ireland and the UK with offices in Dublin and Castlewellan, Co. Down.
In addition to technical and plant resources, Ganson has a strong financial base, allowing the execution of multiple large projects simultaneously. The company’s success over the years is based on sound financial and management principles coupled with an unwavering commitment to high-quality construction.
Ganson Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Ltd
Unit 19,
Balbriggan Business Park,
Balbriggan,
Co. Dublin.
Telephone: +353-(0)1-690-5716
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ganson.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, December 2025, Vol 11 No 13
