Top Honours for the Construction Sector
Winners announced at The Machinery Movers Magazine Industry Awards
March 5th 2016 | Mount Wolsley Hotel, Tullow Co Carlow
#backedbyAIB
The inaugural Machinery Movers Magazine Industry Awards sponsored by AIB Finance & Leasing took place on March 5th 2016 in Mount Wolseley Hotel in Tullow Co Carlow with 420 guests in attendance. The awards recognize excellence and reward outstanding achievements of individuals, operators and companies in the area of construction and quarry machinery. The latest annual review from AECOM shows that the recovery in the Irish construction sector picked up considerable pace in 2015 and shows no sign of slowing down. The sector contributes 126,000 jobs and was valued at €12.25bn in 2015, a 14% rise on 2014, and double-digit growth is anticipated for 2016.
Winners of the company awards included Shannon Valley for Demolition Company of the year Sponsored by Dungannon Plant Sales; Creagh Concrete won Quarry Company of the year sponsored by CDE Global; Atlantic Plant Hire won Contract Crusher of the year sponsored by SANDVIK; Whelan Plant Sales won Attachment Dealer of the year sponsored by Geith; Shannon Valley won Special Construction Project sponsored by FJS Plant Ltd; Vincent Dempsey Plant Hire won Plant Hire Company of the year Sponsored by Liam Coyne Tyres and Swan Plant Hire won Irish Rental Firm 2016 Sponsored by Thwaites. Pat O’Donnell from Pat O Donnell & Co. was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Close Brothers Commercial Finance.
For the first time in the history of the plant industry in Ireland, awards were presented to machine operators in the Irish construction and quarry industry. Operators were put through their paces at the National Construction Training Facility in Mount Lucas on February 20th by a judging panel of experts. Winners of the operator awards included Paddy Patton for Large Excavator Operator of the year sponsored by Case Construction; Gary Ryan won Rockbreaker Operator of the year sponsored by Rockbreakers; Mark Kinahan won Articulated Hauler Operator of the year sponsored by Pat O’Donnell & Co.; PJ Culleton won Wheeled Loader Operator of the year sponsored by Volvo; Vincent Troy won Mini Excavator Operator of the year sponsored by Kubota UK; Hugh Ryan won Bulldozer Operator of the year sponsored by TOPCON; Martin McGuire won Tipper Truck Operator of the year sponsored by Renault Trucks and Oliver Rigney won Wheeled Excavator Operator of the year Sponsored by Whelan Plant Sales.
The ceremony was a most prestigious event and a celebration of the recovery and growth of the sector. Former Miss World Rosanna Davison helped present the awards and entertainment acts such as Extreme Rhythm, The Opera Waiters and Fire performers kept guests at the edge of their seats. One of the highlights of the evening was a charity auction by Paul Cooke Auctions where over €20,000 was raised for Irish Charity RESPECT and their building projects – a perfect fit for the construction sector.
Brian Coogan, Publisher/Event organiser CQMS & Machinery Movers Magazine Industry Awards said “The construction sector accounted for 45 per cent of all the additional jobs created in the Irish economy last year and is a vital part of our economy. The awards are an opportunity for us to formally acknowledge the excellent work being done by operators and companies in our sector highlighting skill, top quality workmanship and high tech machinery.”
Brendan Crowley, AIB Finance & Leasing said – “Congratulations to Brian and all at Machinery Movers Magazine for organising such a great event. Likewise, heartiest congratulations to all winners and indeed nominees. AIB Finance & Leasing were proud to back this event and see our involvement as a statement of intent of our commitment to the sector, we look forward to ongoing collaboration with Machinery Movers Magazine and support of this key sector into the future”
The judging panel included Bill Doyle, Training Instructor with the Laois Offaly training board; Michael McDonagh, Inspector with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA); Patrick Wade, Senior Project Officer with SOLAS; Gerry Prendergast former plant director of Ascon/BAM and Eugene Heather Managing Director of Sam Hire Ltd. AIB Finance & Leasing were the headline sponsor of the event and further sponsors included Iron Planet Auctions, Liebherr, Hire2K, Eco Volve, Paul Cooke Auctions, Shannon Valley, CASE Construction Equipment, Kubota UK, Pat O’ Donnell & Co., Volvo, Thwaites, Liam Coyne Tyres, CDE Global, SANDVIK, Topcon Ireland, Rockbreakers, Whelan Plant Sales, Geith, Close Brothers Commercial Finance, Renault Trucks, Dungannon Plant Sales and FJS Plant
ENDS
Press Contact: Helen O Dwyer | PR1 | 046 9731622 | 086 2332725 | Helen@pr1.ie
Editors Notes:
A full set of images are available from Helen O Dwyer or Michael Donnelly Photographer.
Member of PPAI / LIPPA /NUJ / SWPP.
Studio Tel: 00 353 (0)45 435692 or Mobile Tel: 00 353 (0)87 6484667
