Based in Ballybofey, Co Donegal, John O’Donnell Construction is a family-run business with more than 50 years’ experience in the construction industry. Building Ireland touched base with its Managing Director Paul O’Donnell to hear all about the company – from the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on it to the current projects the firm has on-going at the minute.
When the late John O’Donnell first set-up his construction business venture over three decades ago, he did so with the vision of one day having a company which would supply an efficient, highly skilled and experienced service to its customers.
Today, that idea has very much come to fruition with his son Paul now heading up the 26-staff operation from its base in Ballybofey, Co Donegal.
In fact, the company has been thriving for some time now – even throughout the challenging and unprecedented times brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Building Ireland caught up with Paul O’Donnell to find out what they’ve been up to as of late up in Ballybofey and what the overall hopes for the firm are going forward.
“The whole Covid period was challenging, definitely,” he stated, “but we got through it and we’re busy with some private work at the minute and then we do works for the HSE, (Donegal County) Council and the ETB, so we’re kept busy.
“We recently completed an ambulance base for the HSE and carried out works at all the Covid test centres in Donegal Town, Letterkenny and other areas.
“We’re also working on another scheme of 24 houses and apartments for Donegal County Council where works are progressing well.”
Business is good and Paul O’Donnell and the rest of the team are certainly eager to keep things that way going forward.
The company carries out the majority of its projects within the Tir Chonaill County’s borders and, over the years, it has amassed a level of skill, expertise and capability that is used thoroughly in each and every project that it undertakes.
Paul developed his own skills of the trade by learning them through his late father whom himself had gained decades of experience in the construction sector, before his untimely passing 10 years ago.
To this day, John O’Donnell Construction remains a family business, with Paul’s mother still a director of the firm, his uncle working on site and two of his cousins working in the office.
The wide range of services it provides clients has been key to its growth and overall success down through the years. These includes block laying, plastering, roofing, 1st and 2nd fixing, flooring, foundations, shuttering, kitchens and wardrobes, cladding and decking.
As Paul himself points out, at John O’Donnell Construction they can: “Turn our hand to a variety of different jobs from new builds to extensions, domestic and commercial, we take on all types of work.”
More recent times have saw John O’Donnell Construction completing a HSE project in Donegal Community Hospital.
Last year saw the listed building having its roof taken off, all precured and put back on again by Paul and his team, with Rhatigan Architects in Sligo the architects on that particular project.
“We’re also on a private three-storey house in Letterkenny at the minute and we have a few more private dwellings ongoing,” outlined Paul.
As the time of writing, John O’Donnell Construction were tendering for further housing schemes and also looking to recruit some more grounds men, as well as a site manager to join their team.
When the demand is out there, it must be met and they always seem to find the right personnel to get the job done in a professional and timely manner up in Ballybofey.
So, all of that considered, the burning question is what has been the secret behind the continued success for John O’Donnell Construction over past three decades or so?
How has a small start-up grown into a thriving construction firm which holds an excellent reputation amongst its clients?
For Paul, much of it comes down to the team of staff that he has with him, which he considers to be second to none, as well as the wide range of services they have on offer for the clients.
“We’ve a good team here and have the same foremen, groundsmen and inside men with us and it’s the same quality of work all the time with each project we do,” said the Managing Director.
“We’re happy with the team we have, and the clients appreciate our services. We price it right, do it right and everybody’s happy.”
Since ‘Day One’ at John O’Donnell Construction, Health & Safety has always been a major focus and the company has continued to work on it thoroughly, day in, day out.
As Paul himself pointed out, the safety of every single person on site is of the utmost importance when it comes to each and every project they undertake.
“Health and Safety is something that we take very seriously, the safety of our workers is paramount and the safety of anyone that is on site. Our external health & safety consultants are Safe Tech Consulting & Training Ltd who carry out regular site inspections and ensure that all our certificates are up to date,” he stated.
Looking towards the coming months for the business, Paul says he’s hopeful that they can gain another few projects, with two currently in mind.
“Hopefully, we can get another couple of larger contracts. If we get the two projects currently in mind we would significantly increase our annual turnover which in turn will enable us to compete for even bigger contracts.
“There are a few more HSE jobs as well that we’ll be tendering for. Things are looking alright at the minute anyway,” he concluded.
John O’Donnell Construction Ltd
Curraghamone
Ballybofey,
Co Donegal
Tel: (074) 91 31370
email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, May 2023, Vol 9 No 5
