Established in 2003, McGarry Carpentry & Construction is a one-stop shop for all your carpentry and construction requirements. Managing director Con McGarry explains more.

Having initially only concentrated on carpentry projects, Con branched into construction in 2007 when Con McGarry Carpentry was renamed McGarry Carpentry & Construction Since then, the Roscommon based firm has gained a reputation for delivering high quality carpentry and construction projects throughout Ireland.

In 2008, the company was awarded the joinery and builders’ works package for Castlerea Prison. Since then, Con and his team have undertaken many more public works projects, including schools, colleges and Government buildings, whilst also continuing to carry out domestic projects.  McGarry Carpentry & Construction began to specialise in public works contracts, working with the likes of BAM Construction, Glenbeigh Construction and John Sisk & Son on numerous projects.

The company has remained strong and stable, even during the most challenging of economic climates faced by our sector.  This has been achieved by always employing four key values – Quality, Efficiency, Sincerity and Customer Care.  This repeat business is a testament to the service it provides clients.  The McGarry’s are continuously trying to improve their approach to ensure they provide best value, quality and safe installations to our construction partners and clients.

Among the contracts the company has successfully completed are: Adamstown National School, Dublin; renovation of Ballyfeeney National School, Kilglass, Co. Roscommon; re-roofing of Kilglass Church, Co. Roscommon; Sunderland School of Law, UCD; Spirituality Centre, Glasnevin; Athboy Community School, Co. Meath; Abbeyfeale Community School, Co. Limerick; Hanger 6, Dublin Airport for Aer Lingus; Irish Medicine Board in Dublin and Tallaght IT CASH (Centre of Applied Science) Building.

Tallaght IT
The award-winning Tallaght IT CASH Building brilliantly showcases the expertise of the McGarry team. Eight experienced carpenters worked on the building, which features a stunning 10-metre high two-storey meeting pod within its atrium entrance area.

Firstly, the carpenters had to form the curved structure of the pod. Because the shape of the pod is irregular, every component of the stud structure had to be individually prepared and shaped. The material used was white deal and all work had to be carried out on site.

When the structure was complete, an insulation block was attached to the stud structure. To achieve a suitable finish on the exterior of the pod, the McGarry crew had to use a technique similar to boat building and wrap the pod in strips of WBP. To complete the pod’s interior, large sun lights and a sound membrane were fitted to the stud structure. Working closely with the architects, they decided that popular baton horizontally around the pod would give the best look. The popular curve around the pod shows off the domelike shape of the room.

McGarry Carpentry & Construction can operate as a main contractor or sub-contractor, undertaking various refurbishments, extension and new build schemes. The company has a strong partnering ethos which is utilised on every project undertaken. Within its current framework agreements, it builds and develops strong teams, and considers working with clients, supply chain and consultants key to the success of a project. The company’s workforce applies their vast knowledge and experience to each project undertaken for the benefit of clients.

The carpentry services provided include: internal and external joinery; bespoke joinery; 1st and 2nd fix carpentry; roofing, slating and tiling; natural slate specialists. The construction services offered are: extensions and renovations; general building work; private dwellings; fit-outs; attic conversions.

Kilglass Church
This restoration project was divided into two phases.  Phase 1 included removing the existing Blue Bangor Slates, insulation of the roof structure and re-slating the roof in Natural Slate.  Also stone work repairs were carried out on the chuch bell tower with restoration work to the original bell and specialist cleaning of all the limestone keystones, bell tower and corner stones.  Specialist cleaning was also carried out on the religious statures on the church grounds.  The ethos of the project was to protect the existing structure and bring it back to its original state.

Phase 2 involved the interiors of the church.  We contracted a specialist ecclesiastical designer to complete a colour scheme to original features of the stained glass windows and existing elements.  Our team restored the existing ceiling beams and painted the full interior of the church.  Restoration work was completed to the original parquet flooring and church altars.  A last minute decision to change the existing flooring brought a whole new dimension to the project.  We liaised with EGE Carpets and with a combination of interior designers both in Ireland and Denmark we designed a bespoke carpet which complimented the new colour scheme and brought in elements of existing Celtic cross’s based in the church grounds.  The overall finish was a triumph and a tribute to all the fine craftsmen that worked on the project.

Health & Safety
In an ever-changing industry with increasingly challenging projects, McGarry Carpentry & Construction regard Health & Safety as our number one priority both on and off site. For this reason the company sees great benefits in acquiring the Safe-T-Cert as a means of both continuous assessment & improvement. It is also of great benefit in assuring our clients and employees that they are fully intent in operating a safe working environment and ultimately in keeping Health & Safety to the fore.

The future
The company believes it’s the responsibility of construction companies to ensure that staff benefit from the latest training and upskilling, whether it’s in health and safety, BIM or Building methods.  At present, McGarry’s have staff members completing part-time CPD courses and a Construction Management Degree  with Athlone IT.  They believe their employees represent their most valuable resource and it goes without saying site safety is a fundamental element to their workplace practices.  Staffing numbers have increased by 20% this year and Con is confident these figures will grow with contracts already secured for the coming year.

McGarry Carpentry & Construction is in the process of setting up a new mechanical division which will allow it to cater for everything from site set-up to turn key finish.   In the past six months we have established a maintenance division and we have successfully gained contracts in the Dublin Region predominantly in the public sector.

At present, the carpentry team is working with in Central Park, Sandyford, Timber frame School projects in Dunboyne & Tallaght and Grangegorman DIT.  The construction division is working with Gaeltec on a Coillte Wind Farm Project constructing two control buildings.   These buildings have a high specification and services had to be cast into concrete pours with 100% accuracy. To achieve this accuracy, a lot of coordination between the engineering and architectural teams is essential.

McGarry Carpentry & Construction provides services for all aspects of carpentry, general building work and building maintenance nationwide. The company constantly strives to exceed client expectations on quality, workmanship, service and cost. Why not give Con or Lorraine a call today?

McGarry Carpentry & Construction Ltd
(Roscommon office)
Ballyglass,
Ballinagare,
Castlerea,
Co. Roscommon
Telephone/Fax: 094 9651835
Mobile:       086 6043429
087 2759897

E: [email protected]
www.mcgarrycarpentry.ie

Taken from Building Ireland magazine Vol 1 No 2, Winter 2015

Carpentry, Construction, McGarry