Celebrating 35 years in business, T & S McKeon Homes Ltd is a family-run construction firm which specialises in churches, schools and conservation works. The company is run by brothers Seamus and Thomas McKeon who have over 90 years’ combined experience, knowledge and skills within the industry.
Based in Aughancliffe, Co. Longford, T & S McKeon are a family run business who provide high-quality workmanship at competitive prices for all kinds of construction work. The company places a strong emphasis on quality, performance and teamwork, working closely with the client and architect from project start to completion. Its hands-on management ensures client satisfaction as priority.
Health & Safety is at the core of the business, and never more so than in this post Covid-19 era. From concept to completion, Seamus and Thomas are with you every step of the way, ensuring that your new project is designed and built to your specific needs, and that there are no hidden or extra costs involved. All of their work complies with the highest industry regulations. T & S McKeon is fully insured and is a member of CIRI, Homebond, CIF and the National Guild of Master Craftsmen.
The Longford contractor’s reputation for quality construction and ability to complete projects on time and within the agreed budget is borne out by the high volume of repeat business and referrals it receives from architects and scores of satisfied customers.
The company enjoys an excellent working relationship with sub-contractors, architects, designers and suppliers alike. Sub-contractors include Noel Cusack Mechanical, Rory McElligott Heating & Plumbing, James Conefrey Electrical, JJ Brennan Painting and Roy Moorehead Painting & Decorating among others.
T & S McKeon’s main suppliers are Lovell’s Homevalue in Ballymahon, Ganly’s Hardware in Longford, Dobson’s in Arva, Co. Cavan, North West Tool Hire in Kilclare, Co. Leitrim, Clancy Furniture in Longford, Floorways Ireland in Keady, Co. Armagh, Rhyne Quarry in Killoe, Co. Longford and BD Flood in Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Architects and designers who the brothers have collaborated with include Eamon Hedderman, Eamonn Monaghan – Keys & Monaghan, Brendan Mc Gettigan, Patrick Lynch, Sweeney Architects, TAKA Architects, Cormac Buggy, Michael Fitzpatrick and Kenny Lyons.
“We use the same tried and trusted sub-contractors on every job,” Seamus explains.
“We have a team of expert qualified plumbers, electricians, carpenters, plasterers and painters. When we’re restoring a church, for example, we use contractors who specialise in this work. By employing highly-skilled people, working closely with our architects and designers, and using only the very best approved building products means we can deliver the highest quality construction projects to our clients.”
One of the most high-profile projects T&S McKeon has been associated with is the award-winning Middleton Park Lodge in Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath. The contractor collaborated with Cian Deegan from the aforementioned TAKA Architects in Dublin to refurbish, restore and extend the protected structure in 2020. The clients, Robbie Nixon and Catriona Hatton, sought to extend and refurbish the gate lodge and to turn the adjoining hunting kennel into a small guest house for family, and to add a garage with some stables .
To hide the extensions as much as possible behind the existing buildings, they were sunk half a metre into the ground. This lessened their impact visually on the protected structures, while allowing them to feel like they were embedded in the landscape from inside.
As well as winning Architectural Association of Ireland and RIAI Architecture Awards, Middleton Park Lodge was one of 15 projects from across the world shortlisted for the prestigious Architectural AR House Awards in 2021.
The project’s success had a lot to do with the input of its Longford builders according to Cian Deegan of TAKA Architects.
“They were excellent,” the architect says.
“It was a challenging build. Just the level of detail in it. It looks slightly easy going, but the level of detail and accuracy required was really tough. They did an amazing job.”
While churches, schools, period residencies and heritage work are T & McKeon’s ‘bread and butter’, the company has also completed many residential, healthcare and commercial builds over the years. Fittingly, the company’s first church restoration project was St Colmcille’s in Aughnacliffe. That was followed by works to St Patrick’s Church in Mohill. It has completed a long list of similar projects since then, including St Brigid’s Church and Parochial House, Ardagh; St Mary’s Church, Lanesboro Co Longford, St Mary’s Church, Annaduff Co Leitrim, St Mary’s Church, Drumsna; St Mary’s Church, Legga Co Longford and St Joseph’s Church, Aughavas Co Leitrim.
The Department of Education has become T & S McKeon’s main client in recent years. Among the schools it has carried out works on are Ballymahon Vocational School; St Joseph’s National School in Longford; Moyne Community School, St Colmcille National School in Aughnacliffe; St Teresa’s National School, Killoe Co Longford, Scoil Mhuire National School in Newtownforbes Co Longford.
Other projects it has completed in the Longford area are St Christopher’s Community Residence, Aughnacliffe; Aughnacliffe Medical Centre; Legga Medical Centre; St Patrick’s GAA club in Ardagh. One of T & S McKeon’s current jobs involves retrofitting a house built in the 1970s in Longford town.
The McKeon families are equally well-known in GAA circles. Seamus lined out for Colmcille GAA for many years and is currently a selector with their Junior team. He is also a former Longford County Senior football selector and the holder of an All-Ireland Masters (Over 40s) medal. His sons Shay and Ciaran play for the Colmcille Senior team.
Passionate about construction, Seamus and Thomas would like to take this opportunity to thank all their customers, suppliers, sub-contractors and architects for their continued support. It is very much appreciated.
Here’s to the next 35 years!
T & S McKeon Homes Ltd
Meadow Brook,
Smear Lane,
Aughnacliffe,
Co. Longford.
Telephone: Office – 043 6684347 – Eilis McKeon
Mobile: Seamus – 087 2603459
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.tandsmckeon.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, November 2022, Vol 8 No 11
