Celebrating 40 years in business, Truwood Ltd is a bespoke and specialist joinery company based in Emyvale, Co. Monaghan. Through a dedication to superior craftsmanship and with hard work, the second-generation family business has firmly established itself as one of Ireland’s leading fit-out experts.
From humble beginnings in 1982 when it was founded by brothers Philip and Al McKenna along with Philip’s wife Olive, Truwood has grown to employ 56 people and many more on a subcontract basis. With Philip now taking a backseat, his son Emmet has assumed the role of Managing Director. Emmet is joined by his siblings Laura and Ross, who are Financial Director and Site Director respectively, and Gerard Jones, who is the Commercial Director.
Specialising in the hospitality and commercial markets along with leisure and tourism, public works, healthcare, education and retail sectors, Truwood provides bespoke joinery and associated works for both new builds and refurbishment projects. Such is its stellar reputation within the industry that it has been involved in many award-winning projects along with construction giants such as John Sisk & Son, Duggan Brothers Contractors, Structure Tone, John Paul Construction, PJ Hegarty & Sons, Collen Construction and Flynn Contractors.
Two years ago, the Co. Monaghan company extended its state-of-the-art workshop to 37,500 sq. ft., kitting it out with the most advanced equipment and machinery to complement its staff’s traditional skills and knowledge. This has led to shorter lead times, quicker responses and consistently high standards of quality.
“We extended the assembly area and added a new dispatch area,” Emmet explains.
“We also installed new manual spray booths, an automated spray line as well as a temperature and humidity-controlled drying room. The extension works were completed just before the Covid-19 outbreak.”
Truwood has secured fit-outs on many high-profile contracts in Ireland, UK, Europe and North America in recent years, including:
No stranger to winning awards – it was named Fit-Out Sub-Contractor of the Year at the 2019 Fit-Out Awards and received a ‘Mad About Monaghan’ accolade for its contribution to the local economy earlier this year – Truwood was proud to collaborate with John Sisk & Son on the 10-12 Hanover Quay project which was named the ‘Public Choice’ winner at the recent RIAI Irish Architecture Awards. The family business was chosen to undertake the specialist joinery package in the reception areas and once again came up trumps.
Hanover Quay is an excellent example of how historic fabric can be retained and re-used in an imaginative and sensitive way which forms a contemporary project, retains historical essence and contributes to the sense of place and the industrial aesthetic of the Dublin Docklands.
The result offers an alternative, distinctive type of office space in a central, docklands location. 10-12 Hanover Quay has a variety of spaces, including a roof terrace, large open plan areas within the warehouse and more compact floor plates within the new glass box. The building offers fantastic waterfront views with a choice of entrances. Designed by O’Mahony Pike Architects with Mola Architects, 10-12 Hanover Quay faced considerable competition from a shortlist of over 30 projects in Ireland, the UK and the US to be voted the nation’s favourite building.
Truwood is currently working on several other fit-out projects in the Dublin area. These include a fit-out over seven floors at LinkedIn’s EMEA (Europe, Middle-East & Asia) office at Wilton Place on behalf of Structure Tone. The joinery specialist company is also manufacturing and installing fire treated wall panelling, glazed screens and solid cladding along with a fit-out of the reception areas, director’s office and boardroom at the State Laboratory in Backweston Laboratory Campus in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. The main contractor on this project is Duggan Brothers.
In addition, Truwood is installing atrium screens, slatted and flush wall panelling, canteens, tea stations and credenza units at the Garda Headquarters on Military Road with John Paul Construction.
On June 9/10 last, a 10-strong team from Truwood undertook the ‘4 Peaks Challenge’. The challenge saw them climb the four highest mountains in each province – Carrauntoohil in Kerry, Mweelrea in Mayo, Slieve Donard in Down and Lugnaquilla in Wicklow – within 24 hours to raise funds for both Pieta House and Women’s Aid.
The Truwood team, which comprised of Emmet McKenna, Ross McKenna, Gerard Jones, Damian McRory, Damien Walsh, Cathal O’Neill, Niall McPhillips, Gillian Sherry, Paul Donaghue and Niall Little, completed the challenge in 23 hours and 25 minutes. The climbers were joined by three drivers – Laura McKenna, Niall Teague and Bryan McKenna.
“It was a nice way to mark our 40th anniversary while raising money for Pieta and Women’s Aid,” Emmet says.
Although much of its business is based in Ireland, Truwood continues to work globally and has manufactured bespoke furniture for projects in Spain, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Finland, Holland, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Iraq, Israel and Sri Lanka among other countries. The level of repeat business secured on a regular basis is testimony to the contractor’s standing as a progressive and professional business which employs only the most skilled joiners and craftspeople.
As Truwood continues to go from strength to strength, its affable managing director would like to take this opportunity to thank the company’s customers and suppliers for their ongoing support as well as its staff for their dedication, hard work and skill.
Here’s to the next 40 years of Truwood Ltd!
Truwood Ltd
Drumcondra,
Emyvale,
Co. Monaghan,
H18 K516.
Tel: 047 87581
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.truwood.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, December 2022, Vol 8 No 12
