Kelly Brothers Building Contractors’ commitment to excellence has been recognised once again by its inclusion on the shortlist in the ‘Residential Social & Affordable up to €25m’ category at the upcoming 2026 Irish Construction Excellence (ICE) Awards.
Approaching its 60th anniversary, the Warrenpoint, Co. Down-based main contractor is delighted to be a finalist for its successful delivery of Connolly’s Field in Dundalk in partnership with Crescent Sites, Fold Housing Ireland and Louth County Council. Connolly’s Field is a flagship €12.65m social housing development providing 70 high-quality homes for people aged 55 and over.
The award-nominated project transforms a former commercial site into a vibrant, age-friendly urban community. The development features spacious, fully accessible apartments, open-air circulation inspired by best practice in older-person living, generous private balconies, rooftop gardens and landscaped communal spaces that promote social connection and wellbeing.
Delivered on time and within budget, the project demonstrates excellence in collaboration, digital coordination, sustainable design and modern construction methods. With outstanding build quality, zero safety incidents and strong early resident feedback, Connolly’s Field sets a new benchmark for inclusive, sustainable housing in Ireland. It represents an exemplary partnership-driven approach to meeting the evolving needs of an ageing population while revitalising the heart of Dundalk.
Established in 2014, the ICE Awards recognise, encourage and celebrate original and innovative contractors, businesses, teams, consultants and projects that demonstrate excellence in the built environment. Kelly Brothers are no strangers to winning prestigious awards. In 2023, the successful family-run business won ‘Social Housing Project of the Year’ at the CEF (Construction Employers’ Federation) Excellence Awards for Moylinney in Newtownabbey.
Consisting of six houses and 14 apartments, the development was the first of its kind in Northern Ireland to apply the HAPPI (Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation) principles which focus on creating high-quality, adaptable and sustainable housing for older people. Key design criteria include generous space, abundant natural light, private outdoor space (balconies/patios), and ‘care-ready’ adaptability to meet changing needs.
At the same awards last year, Kelly Brothers was Highly Commended in the ‘Social Housing Project of the Year’ category for Ross Street in Belfast. The development comprised 22 houses, two of which are wheelchair accessible, as well as two own-front door apartments, one of which is wheelchair accessible. As with Moylinney, Radius Housing was the client.
“We’re delighted to be up for an ICE Award. It’s great recognition for the company and reflects very well on our amazing team,” Kelly Brothers senior quantity surveyor Sean Cunningham enthuses.
“The successful delivery of Connolly’s Field was driven by a deeply collaborative, solutions-focused approach involving Crescent Sites, Fold Housing Association Ireland, PDA Architects, consulting engineers, the QS team and Louth County Council.
“From the outset, the team recognised that this project was not simply the construction of 70 units, but the creation of a purpose-built, age-friendly community for people aged 55 and over. Ensuring that the completed works supported independence, comfort, safety, and social wellbeing demanded a collaborative and highly-coordinated construction process.
“Because Fold Housing has deep experience in older-person living, their involvement was critical. Likewise, Louth County Council played an important role in planning, mobility and urban integration. We also enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Crescent Sites. We integrated subcontractors into the early planning process to enhance predictability and performance.
“Works commenced in April 2023 and were completed in August 2025. All stakeholders were very pleased with the finished product. Connolly’s Field is not just a successful project – it sets a benchmark for the future of age-friendly, sustainable social housing in Ireland.”
Combining smart design with modern technology to build successful projects, Kelly Brothers continues to go from strength to strength after almost 60 years in business. It is a multi-faceted building contractor specialising in commercial, education, healthcare, leisure, social and private housing projects on both sides of the border as well as property development.
Among its current projects are two warehouse and office developments in Newry consisting of 105,000 sq. ft. and 180,000 sq. ft. respectively.
The Co. Down company was founded in 1967 by the Kelly brothers, including Leonard – who passed away in 2020 – and Noel. It is now fronted by Leonard’s son Ronan (managing director) and Noel’s son Mark (finance director). Ronan’s sister Leanne is also involved in the second-generation business which employs over 200 highly-skilled tradespeople, including subcontractors.
A sister company of Kellys Building Supplies and Kellys Point Hire in Warrenpoint, Kelly Brothers boasts a proven track record for delivering a wide range of projects in a client-focused manner, on time, within budget, and to the most exacting quality standards. Working with the client and design teams as partners, the company consistently embraces and develops methods of reducing construction costs and site waste by maximising off-site fabrication, streamlining construction methods and using alternative construction techniques.
Furthermore, Kelly Brothers engages in efficient, low carbon, reduced water consumption, low waste, increased recycling, and respect for biodiversity methods of construction on a daily basis. This contributes to the company’s research and development aspects of modern-day construction and continually improves its technical expertise to deal with environmental and social aspects of contracts.
With an enviable Health & Safety record and a proven commitment to the use of sustainable construction processes, Kelly Brothers ensure that every project is delivered in a safe working environment and eco-friendly manner.
Here’s to the next 60 years!
Kelly Brothers Building Contractors
Milltown East Industrial Estate,
Upper Dromore Road,
Warrenpoint,
Co. Down,
BT34 3PN.
Telephone: +44 28 4175 2502
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, June 2026, Vol 12 No 6
featured, Kelly Brothers Building Contractors
