ML Quinn Construction is an industry-leading family-run general contracting company that has been consistently delivering exceptional projects for more than 40 years. With the second generation of his family becoming increasingly involved in the day to day running of the business, Building Ireland touched base with founder Larry Quinn to discover that a bright future beckons for one of Ireland’s premier building firms.
It’s most certainly a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same at ML Quinn Construction – a long-established and proven building contractor associated with the exceptional delivery of a vast portfolio of public projects in Ireland.
Fronted by Larry and Rosaleen Quinn, this model family business has offered a full range of construction services to the residential, education, healthcare, leisure and industrial sectors north and south of the border since its inception in Newry, County Down in 1983 (the company being officially established five years hitherto).
With the second generation – namely founders’ sons, Caolan and Fearghus – taking on more and more responsibility and a Republic of Ireland office opened in Omeath, County Louth, times are changing in one respect but the high quality workmanship and prompt, professional delivery that have become hallmarks of the company remain unwavering constants.
Indeed, these are busy times at ML Quinn as they bring their renowned building excellence and attention to detail to a series of much-needed public projects (including priceless social housing schemes) in counties Louth, Dublin and Kildare.
One of the largest new social housing projects to get underway in Drogheda in recent years, Boice Court Phase 2, Mell is a €27m project comprising the construction of 72 brand new homes for individuals and families on Louth County Council’s social housing waiting list.
The project involves the construction of 31 houses, 25 apartments and 16 duplex units, as well as associated site development and external works. In June of this year, the local authority announced that the first 13 units (five two-bed apartments, six three-bed houses and two four-bed houses) were completed.
“We’ve been onsite there for a year and nine months and the first phase has just been handed over.” Larry notes. “The second phase is coming along well and is due for handover in late August / early September. It’s been a very busy and successful project, with up to 70 or 80 men onsite there at any given time.”
Boice Court is just one of a number of projects ML Quinn Construction was engaged in at the time of writing. As Larry confirmed, they were also working on a couple of key projects for Kildare County Council: “We’re nearing completion of the new fire station in Maynooth and are also doing a mix of 30 new and renovated homes in Rathangan.”
The latter mentioned €8.5m regeneration of St Patrick’s Park (an estate once considered for complete demolition) will see seven new houses built to an A2 energy rating alongside the refurbishment of 23 existing houses to a B2 rating, all done in parallel with the demolition of 15 houses to make way for extensive site development and associated civil and landscaping works.
Meanwhile, the contract for the new fire station on a site at Mullin Park, Maynooth was signed in September, with works commencing in July. A key component of the new three-bay facility is the introduction of environmentally friendly features, including the installation of PV panels and air-to water heating systems, as well as insulation of doors, windows, roof, floor and walls to improve conservation of energy to current building regulation standards.
The new €4.4m building will also incorporate a training yard with drill tower, lecture room, canteen and staff facilities, including individual changing areas for each crew member.
As for some other ongoing and upcoming projects, the founder of ML Quinn Construction reveals: “We’re doing a very important project for ALONE in Sandyford – twelve units to provide accommodation to women who have been victims of domestic violence.
“Also for ALONE, we’re hoping to start shortly on a social housing development of one- and two-bedroom apartments at Jamestown Court, Inchicore.” These social housing units will be located across two apartment blocks (three-storey and four-storey) and will provide independent housing and home support to elderly people.
Closer to home, in Omeath, on the site of the former Táin Holiday Village, ML Quinn has been named as main contractor for the imminent development of a 108-bedrrom nursing home plus four assisted-living apartments.
“We are being kept busy enough,” says Larry. “The last couple of years have been very good, so we can’t complain. We’re completely focused on public work these days and it’s going well. Once these new projects get up and running, we’ll have plenty in front of us.”
ML Quinn generates direct employment for a team of over 25, including foremen, labourers, grounds workers, and snaggers, alongside an extended team of reputable subcontractors who embrace the company ethos and work to the most exacting and punctual standards.
As a family-run business, an excellent service is guaranteed and, with his sons starting to drive the business on, Larry is confident that a bright future lies ahead: “We’ve enjoyed a lot of growth over the last five years and we’re hoping to grow further,” he concludes. “We have doubled if not tripled our turnover in that time and we definitely intend to push on.
“I’m semi-retired myself at this stage but still keep a close eye on things. Caolan and Fearghus have effectively taken over the running of the company and are doing a great job. We’ve completed a lot of nice projects and we’re looking forward to delivering many more.”
ML Quinn Construction,
108 Carrickgollogly Road,
Belleeks,
Newry,
County Down.
Tel: 0044 2830 879300
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, December 2025, Vol 11 No 13
featured, ML Quinn Construction
