Operating more than a quarter century now, Connaught Contractors Ltd has grown a reputation for delivering excellent projects to its clients. Building Ireland heard more about this thriving company recently.
Business is on the up again at Connaught Contractors Ltd and the plan is to try and keep things that way right through to 2022.
Based in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, the company currently employs 87 full-time staff and has grown into a leader when it comes to Building & Civil Engineering in the West of Ireland.
To date, it has earned itself a name for quality projects off the back of its works for the likes of high-profile clients such as JJ Rhatigan, John Sisk & Son, Stewart Construction and Kilcawleys.
Building Ireland touched base with Connaught to find out about the state of business at the moment for the company in these unprecedented times and also learn about some of its on-going projects out west.
“Pre-Covid, we’d about 100 full-time staff here. Now we’re back up to 87 staff, so we’re getting there,” they outlined.
“Prior to Covid, we were on a really good trajectory and, when it did hit, we were probably lucky in that we had essential projects with the HSE and Life Science Pharma requiring work”.
“It gave us some breathing space until September 2020 and, needless to say, that was crucial for us.”
With services in demolition, ground works, civil and formwork, Connaught Contractors Ltd covers all bases for its clients and it’s that range which has helped to keep it busy throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company’s machinery fleet is comprehensive and continually being improved and expanded in order to ensure that customer demand is met each and every time.
So far, Connaught Contractors Ltd has been kept busy in 2021 and the team over in Castlerea Business Park at Henry Byrne Road are looking forward to even busier times ahead.
“Lockdown number three came in January of this year but it wasn’t too bad for us because it enabled us to concentrate on three social housing projects we had” .
“Two of those projects are in Galway and one in Shannon, all were deemed essential works and remained busy during lockdown, alongside this, works continued at Boston Scientific Galway and completion took place of works on The Forensic Hospital.
Currently the company has on-going works at Boston Scientific in Galway for long-time clients John Sisk & Son and another project at Crown Square in the city centre, a JJ Rhatigan Development.
The most recent work to start has been at Galway University Hospital which makes for another busy summer ahead.
Of course, in these unprecedented times, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
“With the restrictions that were brought in, everyday processes such as lads travelling together in vans, group training and supervision, it had a huge impact on the ‘how tos’ and costs associated”.
“We really had to diversify and it looks like it’ll be that way going forward now for some time.
The company has earned fantastic trust from clients down through the years and, it’s one of the key reasons why they are chosen first above other competitors.
“I think our relationship with the client has always been a big thing for us,”. “From the outset, we try to see what way it can work for the them and that we don’t come with any hidden problems afterwards”.
“There seems to be a trust there between us and the client and with some of them it has been there for 20 years”.
“They certainly seem to appreciate the people skills that we have and the fact that our staff are exceptionally good at what they do.”
Pat himself is involved at each and every stage of the business, from pricing, co-ordinating, on site meetings and measures, he very much has his finger on the pulse and knows exactly what’s going on.
Looking towards the months ahead, Connaught Contractors’ projected and secured workbook is very healthy and almost at full capacity again. “I’d imagine that we’d have to readjust a bit more (in the coming months) and probably take an even more cautious approach,”.
“In saying that, there’s definitely light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine being rolled out and (case) numbers going down.
“As for the company, we’re looking forward to things eventually opening up fully again and resuming life as we know it”.
“We’ve got the experience under our belts and great people working with us who are good at what they do.”
Great to hear.
Connaught Contractors Ltd
Connaught House,
Castlerea Business Park,
Henry Byrne Road,
Castlerea,
Co Roscommon
F45 RW29
Tel: 094 9622 007
Fax: 094 9622 008
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, September, Vol 7 No 9
