1934, Northwest of Ireland, Sligo, two purposeful and ambitious young brothers, Matthew and Tom Kilcawley sit down for their regular Saturday night chat. They review the week’s events, discussing the latest news and affairs of the country, local gossip, ideas, and their immediate plans.
As it tends to in recent times, the conversation turns to work. Both are labouring with different builders. They enjoy the work, learning a lot about the trades and the building process. But they are restless, and the more they talk the more they realise they want their own business, the idea excites them. Why? – because they know how they will make it a success.
There and then they make the decision to set up Kilcawley Construction with the mission to deliver Excellence in Construction. Within a year Kilcawley Construction wins the tender and begins the construction of the prestigious 1,000-seater Gaiety Cinema at Wine Street in Sligo, playing its part in ushering the cinema age, Charlie Chaplin and the silent movie era to Ireland and the people of Sligo.
2024, Northwest of Ireland, Sligo, Kilcawley Construction is now an award winning company. With annual turnover of over €50 million and 90 full time staff delivering projects throughout Ireland in a diverse range of sectors, including energy, residential, pharmaceutical, healthcare, commercial, educational, heritage and hospitality for both public and private clients. The project portfolio includes new construction, renovation and expansion along with civil and infrastructural upgrades – integrating sustainable / LEED practices, utilising BIM and innovation to deliver successful, high-quality projects. True to its founders, the company’s philosophy of ‘Excellence in Construction’ is embedded in the culture of the company, intrinsic to how it approaches each and every project.
The company’s successful delivery on its mission of Excellence in Construction in the years between 1934 and 2024 could only have been achieved by an accompanying excellence in leadership. Ambitious, brave and flexible Managing Directors steeped in the company culture provided this leadership. Following six years with the company Fergal Meagher succeeded Brendan Henry as Managing Director in 2018, becoming only the fourth person to hold the position. When Kilcawley Construction was restructured in 1980, Liam Kilcawley, nephew of founder Matthew Kilcawley became owner and Managing Director. In 2000 after over 20 years with the company Tom Kenny succeeded Liam before the company underwent further management and ownership changes in 2007, leading to Brendan Henry, who originally joined the company as a Construction Manager in 1980 becoming Managing Director and 100% shareholder.
In the mid 1990’s after having steadily expanded its operation base from Sligo to the Western seaboard between Clare and Donegal over the previous six decades, the company looked to further expand into new sectors and markets. Over the next 10 years the company expanded significantly into the energy infrastructure, pharmaceutical and commercial sectors, delivering projects for clients including the ESB, Abbott Ireland, GSK, AIB and Bank of Ireland.
Following the Management Buy Out in 2007, Brendan Henry made an extraordinary contribution to the company, immediately expanding the scale of projects, through the delivery of all the Office, Communication and Administration buildings at Shell Corrib Gas. Brendan extended the operation base to the whole country and to all sectors of construction securing new contracts and repeat business with an extensive list of public bodies and blue-chip private clients. Under Brendan’s direction, Kilcawley Construction secured the NSAI Quality Management System, IS EN ISO 9001:2008 and Health & Safety IS EN NSAI 450012018 and committed to the highest standards in matters of Health & Safety through implementation of its “Target Zero” objective and joined the National Irish Safety Organisation, become a multi-year awarding winning member. The company also secured CIF Safe-T-Cert accreditation and the highest ESB Networks, Health & Safety rating of Platinum. Mindful of its sustainable and environmental responsibilities, Kilcawley Construction has also achieved the NSAI Environmental Management System, IS EN ISO 14001:2004 and CDP Sustainability accreditation.
Brendan was a man of honour and integrity who made a massive contribution to the construction industry in Ireland. Brendan sadly passed away in December 2019.
The company now boasts a new sustainable state-of-the-art headquarters which harnesses the sun’s energy at Sansheen Business Campus in Sligo and Regional offices in Maynooth.
“We’re very proud to have reached this milestone,” Kilcawley Construction, Managing Director Fergal Meagher says of the company’s 90th anniversary.
“It only seems like yesterday that we were celebrating 80 years. In the 10 years since then, we’ve steadily increased our scale and retained and grown our client base. It’s about sustainable growth and ensuring a strong future for the company and its employees. We’re already looking forward to seeing what the next 10 years will bring and celebrating our 100th birthday.”
Over the years, the company has developed deep relationships with an experienced and high-quality supply chain both locally and nationally. Where the client’s requirements allow for the selection by the main contractor of the supply chain, their approach has always been to select trades and suppliers who have demonstrated an ability to meet the high standards that Kilcawley Construction insists upon.
Great pride is taken by all members of the Kilcawley Construction experienced team in providing a high-quality service to all clients, with an absolute dedication to completing all projects on time and within budget through a hands-on management approach and working collaboratively using the latest construction techniques and technologies.
As with its suppliers, the company enjoys an excellent relationship with its clients who include the ESB, Vermilion Energy, AbbVie, Alexion, Ballina Beverages, An Post, Charles River, Abbott Laboratories, Kilsaran, IDA Ireland, Office of Public Works, Department of Education, Sligo County Council and the Health Service Executive.
“We’re lucky to have many long-standing blue-chip clients who have supported us through thick and thin. Priority is always given to the clients who have relied on us on a repeat basis, but we also welcome new relationships which we hope will develop into long term sustainable business,” Fergal explains.
“Our current portfolio includes civil and building projects for the ESB and other energy/utility providers, New Headquarters for Kilsaran at their Piercetown HQ in Dunboyne and we are delighted to be working on Phase 3 of the Cranmore Regeneration project for Sligo County Council which is a 132-house refurbishment project in Sligo. We won an Irish Construction Excellence Award in the Social & Affordable Housing category in 2021 for our work on Phase 1 and being back there again further demonstrates our commitment to executing repeat business with strong delivery teams.”
Fergal says: “As a main contractor, it is essential to have a highly experienced diversified and multi-disciplined team who have the knowledge to deliver projects servicing the full breadth of market sectors. This skill set has allowed us to continue to deliver very significant projects across all these market sectors.”
“The company has the experience and expertise to deliver all elements of construction, from complex civil works on a live hospital or pharmaceutical campus right through to the highest standards of finishes on some of the important protected structures in Ireland such as Knock Shrine.”
With an eye to the Future Fergal says, “We see further growth in the energy/utility sector and having worked directly for ESB Networks for over 30 years, we have built up excellent experience and expertise in this sector. This has led in recent years to Kilcawley Construction being selected to deliver design and build on 38kV to 110kV substations projects on contestable substations. We see this area as having further growth for the company.”
As Kilcawley Construction continues to go from strength to strength, Fergal would like to take this opportunity to thank its clients and suppliers for their continued support as well as its direct employees and subcontractors for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Here’s to the next 90 years!
Kilcawley Construction
Sansheen Business Campus,
Strandhill Road,
Sligo,
Co. Sligo.
Tel: 071 9162206
Fax: 071 9169463
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.kilcawleyconstruction.com/
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, May 2024, Vol 10 No 5
