Based in Lisfannon, Co Donegal, Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd is a leading Plant Hire and Civil Engineering company which has a reputation for completing jobs to the highest standards. Building Ireland touched base with owner and founder, Paul Duffy recently to learn all about the business and to congratulate them on winning Ireland’s Best Plant Hire and Civil engineering awards held recently in Dublin
2020 has had “its ups and downs” for Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd, according to Paul Duffy, but the company’s Managing Director is as optimistic as ever going forward.
Established in 1998, Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd is one the leading plant hire firms in Ireland, with past projects including work on the M4, M50 and M3 motorways.
The company specialises in bulk excavation and plant hire as well as waste management, land drainage, site clearance and site development.
They can provide sand, gravel and rock and are available for contract at an hourly or daily rate as required.
Building Ireland caught up with Paul Duffy and sons Dean and Jack recently to find out about the ins and outs of the Co. Donegal-based business.
“We’re in business 23 years and now we employ 14 full-time staff,” and few part-time outlined Paul.
“Myself and Dean are involved in the day to day running of the business. Jack is also getting very much involved, although he’s still only 13. He can be a great help at the weekends and on school holidays.”
Indeed, Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd has all the makings of a family business having grown from the ground up since Paul set-up shop back in 1998.
Today, the company provides a reliable and competitive service in a professional and safe manner and its range of services is tailored to the specific needs of clients. From Plant Hire to bulk excavations, haulage to drainage works, pipe laying, water mains, concrete works and civils etc.
Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd also holds permits for landfills and its haulage permits are available on request.
All contracts are personally supervised by Paul Duffy himself whom has over 25 years’ experience in the industry.
With a large selection of excavators from three tonne to 40 tonne, Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd. has the machinery all clients’ requirements in every aspect of plant hire, groundwork and civils.
2020 has been a bit of a mixed bag for the company business-wise, as they continue to work through these unprecedented times.
“This year has had its ups and downs, what can I say?” said Paul.
“We’re out there and we’re working and after we came back from lockdown in May, it was like coming back after a holiday but an extended one.”
“It (the lockdown) really dragged on and coming back was a bit different but we’ve been out ever since and we’re busy.”
“It’s a lot of repetitive work and while we do pick up the new ones, we have a lot of repeat business with the same clients here.”
It’s that repeat business with clientele that has seen Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd grow into one of the North West’s leading Plant Hire and Civil Engineering contractors.
Operating nationwide, the company provide services in haulage, site clearance, excavation, demolition and low loader for contract or hire.
They operate an extensive range of equipment including lorries, excavators, track excavators, dump trucks and bulldozers and specialise in pile cropping, bulk excavation and plant hire as well as waste management, land drainage, site clearance and site development.
With a reliable and competitive service being carried out in a professional and safe manner, Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd.’s range of services are second to none.
“Right now, we have six trucks that are all mixed brands operating here,” Paul explained.
“We’ve everything: low-loaders, excavators and dumpers including attachments and are operating with newer equipment and a couple of new Hitachi mini-diggers” in addition to recently adding a new Komatsu D65 PX Dozer to the ever-increasing fleet of plant and equipment.
Such equipment allows Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd to play key roles in big and medium to small sized projects all over the country.
August 2020 saw the company’s excellent work recognised on a national scale when it claimed victory at the prestigious Irish Enterprise Awards in Dublin.
Paul and his team in Lisfannon earned first place in the Best Plant Hire & Civil Engineering category at the annual awards.
Reflecting on the success, Paul said he was delighted with recognition that it brought the company.
“It’s a couple of months ago now and it was definitely nice to get the recognition. Any recognition is nice and getting it on that level is great,” said the Managing Director.
Recognised as a key player in plant hire groundworks and civils to the construction industry, Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd continues to grow and earn new business with new clients 23 years on.
So, what has been the secret to success down for the company down through the years?
According to Paul, customer service is very much key in this industry and it’s something he has ensured to maintain since ‘Day One’
“It’s down to costing and budget and after that down to service,” he stated plainly.
“I’ve always felt that customer service is paramount in this line of work and you have to show them that you’re capable of carrying out their project from start to finish and deliver on time.
“If you can get that element of customer confidence then you’re 90 per cent there, in my opinion.”
As for the months ahead in these strange and unprecedented times, Paul, like everyone else, is keen for the situation to improve with regards to Covid-19 pandemic.
“We’re just hoping to keep at it here with the work that we’re doing and that things will improve,” he said.
“These are definitely strange times but you just have to get on with it. Whatever comes, comes.”
Duffy Excavations and Civils Ltd
Lisfannon,
Fahan,
Co Donegal
Tel: 074 936 0777
Mob: 086 225 6584
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: duffyexcavations.com
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, February, Vol 7 No 2
