Based just outside of Dundalk, Co Louth, Fine Living Ltd specialises in providing a full carpentry service for its clients, specialising in timber frame Installations and a full supply & fit carpentry package for high volume developers. Building Ireland heard more from Managing Director Ciaran Byrne on the ins and outs of his company – from its origins to the state of business at the moment.
Since its inception in 2013, Fine Living Ltd is a company which has been growing from strength to strength to the point now where it’s as busy as ever.
Employing over 35 full-time staff, the business is headed up by Managing Director Ciaran Byrne whose wife Helen Byrne is the Financial Director, with Alan Finnegan looking after the projects on the ground as its Project Manager.
Fine Living Ltd operates from Fane Valley, Knockbridge, Dundalk, Co Louth and, over the past decade or so, has amassed an excellent reputation among clients for the work it carries out.
Building Ireland caught up with Ciaran Byrne recently to discuss the projects it has on-going at the minute and overall ambitions going forward.
“Basically, what we do here is work for specific developers where we would install the timber frames for them that they would’ve purchased from a preferred supplier,” he outlined.
“We’d install the timber frame, then manage, supply and fit a first and second fix carpentry package. In doing so, we manage the full supply chain for stairs, doors, etc.
‘’During that process we liaise with suppliers and clients to ensure all operations run smoothly from site installation to final inspections and certification.’’
Since ‘Day One’, Fine Living Ltd has always been a company that prides itself on its attention to detail, resulting in client recommendations and this is how the business has enjoyed such continued growth over the past 11 years.
Ciaran himself served his time as a carpenter having started out in 2002 after finishing school, and ’07 would see him self-employed before travelling to Australia three years later in the midst of the economic recession.
After his return home in ’13, he set-up Fine Living Ltd and hasn’t looked back since as the firm as blossomed year on year.
Today, it employs 35 direct and is immersed in numerous projects throughout the North East Leinster.
“It’s going from strength to strength the last few years where we have consistently grown every year the last five or six years,” said Ciaran.
“We’re doing a lot more supply and fit where it’s all internal carpentry works. We’ve been a lot busier the last year where we’re probably spread out a lot more over smaller sites.
“At the start of last year, we realised that some of the bigger sites weren’t as common and, as a result, we’ve spread over a wider range of sites. We’re probably over seven sites there at the minute to keep the volume of work going.”
Clients trust Fine Living Ltd’s timber frame skills and years of experience to create a high-quality, cost-effective homes, which goes some way to explaining its rise over the past decade.
Right now, the projects are flowing for the company with more set to come down the line, as Ciaran revealed.
“We are currently completing 154 units in Newtownmountkennedy with Fasthouse LH, and we’re also finishing 94 units down in Blessington for Cairn Homes PLC,” said the MD.
“With Cairn Homes PLC, we are in the middle a project in Newcastle and have recently completed a project in Navan of 118 units with the potentially more housing units beginning later in the year.
“We’re also doing allot of work for Castlethorn in Drogheda where they’re doing a largescale housing development. Castlethorn are the backbone on that job and we’re involved in all of the carpentry works on that site.
“We are very proud to say MKN Developments are a long standing client of ours. We have been working with them for over six years now. Currently, we are finishing a project in East Wall where there’s 110 apartments with another 67 apartments project starting on Collins Avenue in then in the next few weeks.
‘‘We have recently began to work with Lagan Homes Ireland on key projects on the M1 corridor. Lagan Homes Ireland have an ambitious target for the forthcoming years, and hopefully we be able to continue in helping them achieve those targets.’’
So, all of that considered, the clear question is what has been the secret behind Fine Living Ltd’s success to date?
How has a small start-up grown into what is now very much a thriving development firm with a golden reputation amongst its clientele?
For Ciaran, it’s down to several different factors, but he credits the team he has with him as much as anything else, along with key clients.
“We pride ourselves in our efficiency and the work ethos of the lads that we have with us,” he pointed out.
“I really believe that you’re only as strong as the men you have working with you and the ones that we have are second to none.
“What helps us make sure that we give the best service to our clients is the staff and, obviously, the management with Alan (Finnegan) and so forth.”
He added: “The staff that are with us at the minute are with us long-term. Some of our key staff here have been with us from when we started and they’re very instrumental to where we’re going.
“Our staff are constantly growing year on year in order to cater for our customers’ needs and we plan to continue that. I don’t believe in a big burst of growth, it’s more steady growth that I’d like to see happening.”
Indeed, Fine Living Ltd has the expertise and experience to ensure that your project runs smoothly, stays on schedule, and stays within budget thanks to the excellent team it operates with.
Looking at the months ahead, Ciaran is perhaps as optimistic as he’s ever been moving forward as the business continues to endeavour, grow and, ultimately, deliver for its clients.
“We’re just hoping to grow as our clients grow, to be honest with you, and keep up the good service that we’ve provided so far,” he concluded.
Great to hear.
Fine Living Ltd
Fane Valley,
Knockbridge,
Dundalk,
Co Louth
A91 KD9F
Tel: 042 603 0266
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August 2024, Vol 10 No 8
