Wincove Build Ltd, an affiliate of the Hanly Group, is an award-nominated company specialising in design-and-build projects. Building Ireland spoke with co-founder John Donlon to learn more about the projects the business is currently undertaking, as well as its nomination at the upcoming Irish Construction Excellence Awards at the Convention Centre Dublin.
Wincove Build Limited was founded by John Donlon and Alan Hanly, and while only in its third year of operation, this collaboration has jointly drawn directly on the expertise and personnel which has previously developed in excess of 3200 residential units and an extensive portfolio commercial of projects over a 30-year period.
Wincove Build Ltd has quickly established itself as a dynamic and ambitious player in Ireland’s construction sector, combining development expertise with a hands-on contracting approach.
The company is already making a significant impact through a growing portfolio of residential, commercial and hospitality projects, alongside a notable award nomination that underscores its rising reputation.
Speaking about the business to Building Ireland, co-founder John Donlon highlights both its scale and structure.
“Our offices are in Dublin and Roscommon and we focus primarily on management contracting with specifically civils works carried out using our own plant, personnel and resources”, he outlined. “Myself and Alan Hanly operate the business.”
This lean but effective structure allows Wincove Build Ltd to remain agile while delivering projects to a high standard. With nearly three decades of experience in the contracting industry, Donlon—alongside Hanly of the Hanly Group, a long-time collaborator of over 30 years—brings deep industry knowledge and a shared vision that underpins the company’s growth.
At the core of Wincove Build is a twofold business model that balances contracting services with property development. This approach enables the company to maintain control over quality while also identifying and delivering value-driven opportunities in the market.
Wincove Build operates across two core areas: contracting and development, Donlon explained. “We collaborate closely with clients on the contracting side, while also identifying and progressing our own development opportunities.”
This dual capability has already resulted in a number of successful and ongoing projects.
Among those projects is Springwell Court, one of the company’s own residential developments, as well as plans for future schemes in Athlone, the Midlands and Dublin 15. Springwell Court comprises 16 architecturally designed residential units, created by ASE Design Consultants Limited, another Hanly Group company. Through close collaboration with the in-house design team, Wincove Build brings dynamic engagement at design stage which ensures a strong focus on deliverability and efficiency enabling projects to progress in a more vigorous and efficient manner.
Wincove Build Limited, through sites form its affiliate Hanly Group, has plans for similar sized developments in Athlone, regional towns in the Midlands and in Dublin, all of which are at planning stage.
“Springwell Court was one of our own developments and we currently have plans for another similar size development in Athlone and a larger development in another regional town in the Midlands,” Donlon noted. “We’re also looking at another small residential development in Dublin 15.”
In addition to its development pipeline, Wincove Build is actively engaged in a range of contracting projects across healthcare, hospitality and heritage sectors.
“We’re currently delivering a primary care unit in Citywest, which commenced on site last October and is scheduled for completion in 2027,” said Donlon. “At the same time, we’re progressing works for our affiliate, the Hanly Group, comprising an extension at Lough Rynn Castle Resort in Mohill, as well as the fit-out and refurbishment of 19 bedrooms at Kinnitty Castle in Co Offaly.”
These projects demonstrate the company’s versatility and ability to work across different environments—from modern healthcare facilities to historic properties requiring careful refurbishment.
Each project reflects a tailored approach, with close collaboration between client, contractor and all relevant parties with Wincove Build playing a central role.
The past year has been particularly productive for Wincove Build, with several key milestones achieved across both contracting and development activities as well as achieving ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001.
“Last year, we completed a project at Castlerea Prison, delivered student accommodation at The Bower in Athlone, and commenced work on the Citywest project,” Donlon said.
“Meanwhile, we hope to develop two sites. One is in Athlone where we are preparing a planning application for it, which is due to be submitted imminently and another site in the Midlands for a larger-scale residential development, which we hope to bring into planning this year as well.”
He added: “Business is good. Everyone knows that the industry is quite tough at the moment and getting good people is always an issue for everyone, along with trying to manage the inflation rate situation.
A major highlight for Wincove Build Ltd is its recent shortlisting in the Irish Construction Excellence Awards in the ‘Residential Private Up to €30m’ category.
The nomination recognises the company’s work on Springwell Court in Athlone—a project that exemplifies its commitment to quality, efficiency and innovation.
“That project commenced at the end of April 2024 and was completed in June 2025, with the units handed over directly to purchasers,” Donlon explained.
Springwell Court comprises 16 architecturally designed residential units. These units were constructed on a constrained brownfield site near Athlone town centre. The site had remained undeveloped for decades due to a combination of poor ground conditions, legacy infrastructure challenges, and an irregular configuration.
Overcoming these challenges required careful planning and strong technical execution. Through robust engineering solutions and disciplined project management, the team was able to maintain both design intent and financial viability. The project was completed within an ambitious 13-month programme—an achievement that highlights Wincove Build’s efficiency and attention to detail.
More broadly, Springwell Court stands as an example of how previously unviable sites can be transformed into high-quality housing. By combining construction expertise with strategic development insight, Wincove Build has demonstrated its ability to unlock potential where others may see limitations.
A defining feature of the success of this business is its emphasis on collaboration on the contracting side. The company actively seeks clients who are engaged, decisive and willing to work closely throughout the construction process.
“It’s very much a partnership approach of the client,” said Donlon. “We like strong decision-making clients that know what they want and we can work in partnership with them and very closely with them.
“So, I suppose, any client that doesn’t want to be involved would be more difficult, whereas if you take Citywest, you would have clients there that are very much decision makers and very much involved on a daily basis and we work in partnership with them. In terms of Lough Rynn and Kinnitty, these are Hanly Group developments, whose design and delivery decisions are precise and definitive ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the build process”.
By fostering strong relationships and open communication, the company ensures that projects run smoothly and align closely with client expectations.
As Wincove Build continues to expand, its focus remains on sustainable growth and maintaining a balanced portfolio of development and contracting work.
“We want to continue the company’s growth in a sustained manner, achieve our planning permissions and to get on a number of frameworks we’ve applied for, and also to continue with a mixture of development and contracting,” said Donlon.
With a growing pipeline of projects, a strong leadership team and industry recognition already in place, Wincove Build is well positioned for the future.
Its ability to combine technical expertise, strategic thinking and collaborative delivery sets it apart in a competitive market—ensuring that its upward trajectory is not only maintained but strengthened in the years ahead.
Wincove Build Ltd
Dublin office:
20 Mount Street Upper,
Dublin 2.
D02 WV56
Roscommon office:
Laragan,
Elphin,
Co Roscommon.
F45 Y329.
Telephone: +353 (1) 689 0967
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.wincovebuild.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, June 2026, Vol 12 No 6
