Having delivered major, high-profile projects such as Croke Park, the Aviva Stadium and Dublin Airport to the highest possible standards, JW McNulty Ltd. has established itself as Ireland’s premier commercial and industrial painting and decorating contractor. We met up with managing director Patrick McNulty to get an insight into this impressive, market-leading family-run operation.
Boasting over four decades of specialist experience, JW McNulty are leaders in their chosen field of expertise – master craftsmen in the all-important art of commercial and industrial painting and decorating. Their exceptional workmanship is in the public eye every day – from Dublin Airport to Enniskillen Castle Museum, Croke Park to Finn Valley College, Penneys, Sligo to UCD, with every project delivered to the highest standard.
A member of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) and Master Painters and Decorators of Ireland (MPDI), JW McNulty specialises in large commercial painting contracts, specialist industrial painting and specialised coatings / fire protection for interior and exterior wall and floor surfaces, always using the product that’s most suitable to the job at hand and environment type.
With the ability to work safely and efficiently in a live environment with minimal disruption to business, JW McNulty’s flexibility, professionalism, unwavering commitment to Health & Safety and ability to complete every project on time and within budget leads to an endless stream of repeat business from a who’s who of main contractors including Sisk and BAM as well as some of Ireland’s largest companies and most popular sites.
Only the best quality products are used in all work carried out and the McNulty team liaises closely with clients to make sure that they’re operating safely and in an environmentally-friendly manner at all times.
Specialising in cladding spraying, factory painting, steel painting, floor painting & preparation and roof painting, JW McNulty’s friendly, knowledgeable and highly-trained tradesmen and managers are experts in the various processes required for intensive surface preparation techniques and speciality coatings. From start to finish, every contract is overseen and completed by master craftsmen, all directly employed, with all services provided in-house.
With offices in Blanchardstown and Donegal, the company was set up more than 40 years ago by the pioneering John (‘JW’) McNulty – a former President of MPDI – and has since taken its place in the premier division of Ireland’s painting and decorating contractors. Meanwhile, sister company McNulty Decorators provides an equally superb service across Northern Ireland from its office in Aghyaran County Tyrone.
John retired in the early 2000s but has been replaced as managing director by his son, Patrick, who has been part of the family business since leaving school in 1999 and possesses the same levels of drive, enthusiasm and determination to provide an exceptional service and keep JW McNulty at the forefront of the commercial and industrial painting and decorating sector.
He is concerned, however, that the future evolution of JW McNulty – and the painting and decorating sector in general – could be hamstrung by a lack of skilled workers. “To that end, we are currently working in conjunction with Solas and the MPDI to review apprenticeships and revamp things in that area because there simply aren’t enough bodies in the trade,” he notes. “We currently employ between 30 and 50 people, depending on what projects we’re working on at any given time, but it’s imperative for the natural growth of the company that more personnel become available,” says Patrick, who runs the business alongside his wife, Shauna.
Over the years and decades, JW McNulty Ltd. has become the go-to painting and decorating contractor of a long list of premium clients, working on apartments, office blocks, schools, hospitals, shops, stadiums, etc. from Dublin to Donegal. How have they succeeded in nurturing such a stellar reputation for excellence?
“A lot of planning,” Patrick replies. “Preparation and planning are paramount and safety is also very important, as well as quality workmanship, obviously We have a safety officer on board and every contract is fulfilled in the safest possible manner. Health & Safety is everything in this line of work and you simply can’t put anything up unless you know it’s 100% safe to your staff, client and the general public. When an employee
goes out to work in the morning, you want to make sure that he returns home safely to his family that night.”
Safety is an integral part of how JW McNulty plan, organise and undertake all projects, with all work practices designed and managed in accordance with the principles of SafePass, while personnel are also fully trained and adhere to the relevant safety guidelines of manual handling, MEWP, management and inspection of scaffolding, mobile access towers, application of fire protection etc.
“The staff play a key role in the success of the business. All of our foremen and senior staff have been with us long term down through the years and some of them have broken out on their own but still give us a helping hand whenever we ask.”
Only the best brands are used, including Vescom, Muraspec and Tektura wall coverings; Jotun, Nullifire and Envirograf fire protection; Remmers / Epoxy, Sika Floor and McDur for floors and carparks; Murfill, Keim and Sto external and façade paints; Colourtrend, Dulux, Fleetwood, Crown, interior & exterior paints – all depending on what the client requests.
As a keen sportsman who played senior football for Donegal under Brian mc eniff / Mickey Moran and who also lined out alongside Dublin legends Alan and Bernard Brogan in the colours of St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh as well as playing soccer with both Fanad United and Letterkenny Rovers, Patrick admits he took a great deal of personal pride and satisfaction from landing the prestigious Croke Park and Aviva Stadium contracts.
“It was fantastic to be working in those stadiums,” he confirms. “We did the Aviva in one take, from start to finish, in two years, while Croke Park was done in phases – the Cusack Stand, then the Canal End, then the Hogan Stand – and that was on and off for seven years. We did all the paintwork, vinyl wall coverings and specialist coatings in Croke Park and it was a real privilege to be asked to do that.
“All of these buildings were completed for Sisk and we are proud to be associated with them because Sisk is a great contractor to work for.”
Looking to the future, the affable MD is optimistic that JW McNulty can continue to lead the way as a top-class commercial and industrial painting and decorating contractor. “There’s a big future in this and we’re in a strong position but, as I mentioned already, as an industry we really need to solve the problem of apprentices,” he concludes. “There are only twelve first years in Ireland coming into apprenticeship painting this year and we need a lot more than that. It’s a really good career and there are opportunities there, so hopefully we can do more to entice more people to sign up for apprenticeships.”
In this regard, as well as in providing its clients with unrivalled service levels, JW McNulty Ltd. is certainly leading by example.
JW McNulty Ltd.,
192 Edgewood Lawns,
Blanchardstown,
Dublin 15.
Tel: 086 8042338 / 085 1413433
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, November 2017, Vol 3 No 10
