Celebrating 60 years in business, MJ Clarke & Sons Ltd is one of Ireland’s longest established building contractors and building maintenance providers. The family-run business’ reputation is built on quality workmanship, excellent client relationships and absolute dependability.
Established in 1961 by the late Michael Clarke, MJ Clarke’s is now fronted by his daughter Rachel Clarke (managing director) and son John (director). Another son, Vernon, is also involved in the Rathfarnham-based firm which employs 24 people and has an annual turnover of about €5 million.
“We’re a good-sized SME offering the same skill sets as the bigger builders. Our projects range in value from €5-€50,000 minor works projects to €1 million-plus for main contracts. In addition, our Maintenance Business provides an unmatched reactive maintenance service – from the basic call out – to fix a door, a tap, an electrical issue or any other reactive repair works required in a building.
“My dad was proud of his name in the business – and his reputation for excellent workmanship and fairness, and we want to keep that tradition going,” Rachel says.
The company operates a contracts division and a general building maintenance and minor works division. The contracts division carries out construction works for some of the country’s leading architects, commercial organisations, financial and educational institutions, tech companies, embassies, hospitals, prisons, sports organisations and retail outlets. It is especially adept at working in live and occupied environments.
The general building maintenance and minor works division employs a highly-skilled and mobile workforce to deliver reactive, planned and unplanned maintenance and minor works services to clients across Leinster. MJ Clarke & Sons can provide a complete service, from carpentry, roofing, civil works, electrical, plumbing, painting and decorating to glazing, flooring, ceilings, air conditioning, paving, tarmac, fire stopping, locksmiths and steel works. Furthermore, it offers regular clients a 24/7 emergency callout service, 365 days a year.
“We have a solid team of quality tradesmen which leads to a lot of repeat business. I would go as far as to say that our people are our greatest strength. Some of them have been with us for 30 years, during which time they have accrued a wealth of experience and expertise,” Rachel explains.
MJ Clarke’s has built up a reliable base of partner sub-contractors who are as committed to delivering the same level of service as they are, meaning they can offer the full complement of trades. One of the main reasons for the company’s successful relationship with sub-contractors is down to the way it treats both them and suppliers, along with its commitment to paying their supply chain on time.
The Dublin firm has successfully completed many prestigious projects in recent years for clients such as Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art & Design, Failte Ireland, The Law Society, St Luke’s Hospital, Central Remedial Clinic, St Patrick’s Hospital, Royal Victoria Eye & Ear, National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire and Christ Church in Taney, Dundrum.
“We are currently constructing the new Emergency Department in the Eye & Ear Hospital – internal strip out and fit out, electrical, mechanical and new fall arrest system on roof. We have just completed one minor works project in St Gabriel’s Nursing home – relocating their laundry room – including all civil, electrical and mechanical works and are now completing the conversion of the original laundry room into new ensuite bedrooms, including all electrical and mechanical works.
“We are also currently refurbishing a private residence in Dublin – which includes a very high spec timber library – this will be stunning when finished and something my dad would have been very proud to have his name associated with,” Rachel adds.
The affable managing director made history last year when she became the first female president of the MBCA (Masters Builders & Contractors Association), which is part of the CIF. In doing so, Rachel followed in the footsteps of her father who was president back in 1991. Poignantly, she received the chain of office just three months before Michael passed away.
“I was inaugurated in March and dad died in June. I was thankful that he lived to see it because he was a proud MBCA man,” Rachel reflects.
“Unfortunately, my plans to engage with members in their own offices and onsite to foster the collaborative approach of addressing sectoral issues that has always been the hallmark of the MBCA were scuppered by the pandemic. It meant that Council meetings had to be held virtually. There are many challenges facing main contractors in the wake of COVID and MBCA members have an important role to play in getting the economy back on its feet.”
The company believes in growing its own talent where possible and has provided apprenticeship opportunities to many aspiring carpenters down the years. MJ Clarke’s management team today is built on some of the best of these, including Gerry Quinn, who is a director. Gerry served his apprenticeship over 40 years ago and now heads up the maintenance and minor works side of the business.
MJ Clarke & Sons Ltd
Whitechurch Road,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
Telephone: 01 4933386 / 01 4933387
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Web: www.mjclarkes.com
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, September, Vol 7 No 9
