We spoke to Kevin Meaney MD at Meaney Plant and Civil in Co Laois.
Based in Wolfhill, Co. Laois, Kevin’s outfit specialises in all aspects of civil and groundworks, including deep drainage, foul, storm and water main works, site development, bulk excavation works, farm reclamation works and landscaping.
They are currently involved in several projects around Co Kildare, Hillfort by Lagan homes in Kill, An Lumann by Lagan homes in Straffan and two sites in Clane by Westar.
Also, they provide electrofusion and butt-fusion welding as well as pressure testing and chlorinating. Meaney has a large fleet of self-drive machines, including excavators, site dumpers, telehandlers, compaction equipment, bulldozers, generators, road-tows, concrete equipment, haulage, attachments and fuel bowsers.
Some of the newer machines they are using include 2 new Hitachi 26U’s from TBF Thomsons, a Kubota U27 from FJS, Hyundai 140 rubber duck, 4 Volvo excavators, a Hitachi rubber duck with Engcon hitch, 2 CAT 302.7’s and a new CAT 308 from Finning. Quite the arsenal indeed.
All machines are maintained and upgraded on a regular basis to ensure there is no such thing as downtime.
Groundworks runs in the family, in 1985 after returning from the UK, Kevin’s father Joe began offering a farm reclamation and land drainage service. In 2018 Kevin took over the reins and took it to the next level.
“My father gave me the interest and love for groundworks and machinery. He drives a bulldozer now and it’s great to have him still involved,” said Kevin, who played midfield for the Laois senior footballers for over a decade and continues to line out for his club Arles/Kilcruise.
Meaney Plant & Civil has grown extensively in recent years and now employs a team of 50 skilled employees who are supported by the same tried and trusted subcontractors. The company places a strong emphasis on Health & Safety and is fully committed to maintaining a safe working environment for all employees and personnel involved in each project.
“We’re a one-stop shop for all your groundworks and plant hire needs,” said Kevin.
“We have a top-class team which is supplemented by subcontractors who do everything from carpentry, shuttering and kerbing to pipelaying, groundworks and general labouring. We pride ourselves on our workmanship and ability to complete projects on time and within budget. We’re always looking to expand and improve our service.”
All machines are maintained and upgraded on a regular basis to ensure there is no such thing as downtime.
“We also have dumpers ranging from 1 to 30 tonnes, including six Volvo 825s. Our dozers are a Komatsu PX65 and a CAT D6N. We hire out rollers, generators and teleporters, including teleporters which are on long-term rental. We currently have up to 20 self-hire machines, including mini-diggers, breakers and plant trailers, with utility company Ruatech who are working on the NIB (National Broadband Ireland) rollout.
“By investing in the latest technology, we’re able to provide our customers with a more efficient service.”
Success
Kevin puts down a lot of his success to partnerships he has forged with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers and consultants.
Clients know that whatever the scale or scope of the project, the family business can provide a professional, efficient, reliable and value-for-money service. The company is renowned for its top-quality work, which is delivered in a timely manner, and to the client’s exact specifications.
“We’re working on an industrial unit and Hamilton Park, which is three blocks of 60 apartments, for The Westar Group in Clane. We’re also doing bulk excavation for Codd Mushrooms in Tullamore. One of our most high-profile jobs was the demolition of Magee Barracks in Kildare for Formation Homes last year. We have our own screener which allows us to crush up the rubble and materials for recycling.
We have plenty of work to keep us busy.”
Some other recent projects included the demolition of Laois Sawmills, a 70-unit development for Formation Homes in Kiltipper, Castle Park seafront apartments for Twinlite in Dalkey and another housing scheme for Lagan Homes in Celbridge.
“Driven by a relentless pursuit of progress, we continuously seek new ways for expansion and enhancement, striving to raise the bar in every aspect of our operations. Central to our ethos is the well-being and safety of our employees, fostering a culture of morale and camaraderie that permeates throughout our firm.”
So, it seems to me that the Meaney outfit and its success story is growing stronger at a phenomenal rate and it’s down to professionalism, good client relations and good staff.
