Since its establishment in 1947, Clancy has evolved into one of Ireland’s most respected construction firms, underpinned by a steadfast commitment to partnership, collaboration and delivery excellence.
As the company approaches a milestone anniversary next year, its continued growth and strong project pipeline highlight a business operating at the peak of its capabilities.
Speaking with Contracts Manager John McDonald offers valuable insight into both the scale of Clancy’s current operations and the quality of work that has earned the company success and multiple nominations at the 2026 Irish Construction Excellence Awards.
The awards ceremony took place at the Convention Centre Dublin on May 28th, and Clancy secured nominations in four categories, including ‘Fit-out/Refurbishment over €10m’ and also ‘Residential Private over €30m’. There was huge pride when the firm was named winner of the latter award.
This success reflect not only the company’s expanding portfolio but also its ability to deliver complex, high-impact projects across a variety of sectors.
John McDonald, who has been with Clancy for seven-and-a-half years, has witnessed this growth first-hand.
“There’s close to 200 working with Clancy now,” he explained, noting the steady expansion of the team. from Wexford, McDonald gained international experience in both London and Australia before returning to Ireland and joining the team at Clancy.
Today, he plays a central role in managing some of the firm’s most significant projects.
Business, he says, is thriving. “It’s extremely busy. We have a few finishing and a few starting,” he remarked, reflecting a healthy and balanced project pipeline that positions the company strongly for continued success.
Among the major developments currently underway is the Beacon Hospital extension, a €51 million project that exemplifies Clancy’s capability in delivering large-scale healthcare infrastructure.
The project involves demolishing a former hotel structure down to podium level and constructing a new 10-storey extension above it. Having commenced in August 2025, the development is scheduled for completion in July 2027.
Its complexity and scale underline Clancy’s technical expertise and its ability to manage intricate builds within live healthcare environments.
McDonald also served as Contracts Manager on both the Ronald McDonald House and the Mount Carmel Community Hospital projects, each of which has been recognised in this year’s ICE awards shortlist.
The Ronald McDonald House project, valued at €22 million, stands as a powerful example of construction serving a deeply human purpose.
Located directly opposite the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin, the facility provides essential accommodation for families of seriously ill children.
“That was a €22m project and it’s built right opposite the new National Children’s Hospital. When it opens it’s going to be used for the parents of the sick Children for accommodation,” McDonald explained.
“It was a logistically challenging site where we had no space. So we looked to do a lot of Modern Methods of Construction. We got as much of the materials manufactured off site, for example prefabricated reinforcement steel for foundations, Light gauge steel for structure and precast stairs form subcontractors who we work in partnership across Clancy projects. We find working in collaboration with key subcontractors breeds success.”
Completed in November 2025, the Ronald McDonald House incorporates 52 ensuite bedrooms alongside a range of thoughtfully designed communal spaces, including family kitchens, lounges and playrooms. These facilities are carefully curated to provide comfort, dignity and a sense of normality for families during extremely difficult times.
The project utilised MMC, including prefabricated structural systems, enabling exceptional build quality while improving programme efficiency and site safety.
In line with modern sustainability standards, the building achieves Near Zero Energy Building status and holds an A3 Building Energy Rating. A secure basement corridor connects the facility directly to the hospital, ensuring families have 24-hour access to their children.
Delivered on time and within budget, the project is expected to support over 800 families annually, making it a standout example of socially driven construction. Its nomination for the Irish Construction Excellence Awards is a testament to both its technical delivery and its profound societal impact.
Equally impressive is the Mount Carmel Community Hospital project, a development completed in just over eleven months.
“It was a €17m project and done in a 12-month period,” McDonald noted, highlighting the efficiency with which the team delivered a highly complex refurbishment.
This project involved transforming the existing hospital into the HSE South Dublin Surgical Hub, the first of six such facilities planned nationwide to increase day-case surgical capacity and reduce waiting lists. The scope included a full refurbishment and fit-out, delivering four state-of-the-art operating theatres along with clinical, administrative and support spaces.
The project presented a series of technical challenges. Each theatre was located within a different structural zone of the building, requiring careful coordination and innovative solutions to overcome constraints such as limited ceiling voids and the integration of advanced services and specialist equipment.
Despite these difficulties, Clancy successfully delivered a fully digital, environmentally conscious facility, including one of Ireland’s first green theatres.
Operated by St James’s Hospital, the surgical hub welcomed its first patients on February 18th, 2025, and has since been regarded as a benchmark for future developments of its kind. Its nomination in the ‘Fit-out/Refurbishment over €10m’ category reflects the precision, innovation and collaborative approach that defined its delivery.
For McDonald, these projects exemplify what sets Clancy apart in a competitive industry.
“Clancy live by their core values really. It’s built in partnership and they like to work collaboratively with the clients,” he said.
“We strongly believe in working closely with our clients and, whether it’s design and build or it’s standard form of contract, we generally have pretty good relationships with the client out there.”
This focus on relationship-building has been instrumental in the company’s growth, fostering trust and repeat business across both public and private sectors.
The company’s financial trajectory further illustrates its success.
“I think Clancy has grown a lot since I started even,” the Contracts Manager reflected. “There was a turnover of €40m when I first started and now, you’re looking at €160m there.”
This substantial increase underscores the firm’s ability to scale while maintaining its core values and commitment to quality.
As Clancy looks ahead to both its upcoming anniversary and the Irish Construction Excellence Awards, the company stands as a strong example of how sustained growth, technical expertise and a collaborative mindset can drive success in the modern construction industry.
With a portfolio that balances large-scale infrastructure with socially impactful developments, and with award-nominated projects that set new benchmarks in quality and innovation, Clancy continues to build not just structures, but lasting partnerships and meaningful contributions to communities across Ireland.
Clancy Head Office:
Ballylusky,
Drangan,
Thurles,
Co Tipperary
Tel: 052 91 52166
Fax: 052 91 52280
E-mail: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August 2026, Vol 12 No 8
