Month: August 2022

McKeon Group has just unveiled the restoration of St Pats Water Tower to its former glory. The work was completed in August 2022 on the Water Tower in Block D on St Patrick’s College campus, and the results are truly stunning.

It isn’t every day that you get to work on a structure that is over 200 years old. McKeon Group was honoured to work on this Dublin Landmark to restore it to its former glory. This conservation project required McKeon Group to work closely with specialists Nolan Conservation Group to ensure that all works did not damage the structure.

In order to restore this extraordinary building, we completed a full refurbishment which wrapped up in August 2022.

Since being built in 1890, this was the first full refurbishment carried out. While there had been some maintenance works including the repointing of brickwork, nothing as in-depth as our works had been completed.

This involved raking and repointing brick and stone work on the tower, refurbishing the drainage pipework, guttering and tower windows, and cleaning and repainting the existing ironwork including a spiral staircase, bell yoke, and weathervane.

We also completed the refurbishment and replacement of clay balusters, replaced the slate roof tiles on top of the tower, a full in-depth clean of the inside and outside of the tower, installed lighting pendants, and then installed a new access platform to the tower.

But our work didn’t end there as the roof also required a major rework. This included the removal of existing redundant fire escape steel stairs, refilling openings at window locations, installation of missing stone cills, and finally completing a new platform walkway over services.

Eye-catching work

Quantity Surveyor Bruno Bottura felt privileged to work on this project, which was his first conservation project since he began working with McKeon Group. Bruno moved to Ireland from Brazil five years ago and in a strange coincidence, the tower already held some significance for him.

He said: “When I started my first job in Ireland, I could see the Water Tower from the window. I loved looking at it, it’s truly a beautiful building. There’s nothing this old in Brazil, especially where I come from.”

Bruno also spoke of how well the building has stood up, with the eye-catching spiral staircase not needing much more than a fresh paint job to be restored. The weather vane required some welding work but Bruno says it is “much more prominent now, it’s like a beam of light at the top of the tower.”

McKeon group would like to especially thank all involved including Eanan O’Doherty (DCU), Cathal Crowe in OCSC, Ciaran Mullarkey in MPA, and our own team, led by Donal Molloy and Bruno Bottura.

Neil Wyer started his McKeon journey as an apprentice electrician back in 2007 and 15 years later, he is leading the division.

The immensely experienced electrician has worked across all facets of the industry, tackling projects in the commercial, industrial, educational and pharmaceutical sectors to name just a few.

His recent promotion to Electrical Services Director is due to his incredible work ethic, ability to lead teams and inspire those around him. Neil embodies the McKeon core values of Quality, Innovation, Client Commitment, Sustainability, and Integrity and this has helped him to excel and thrive within the company.

“I started with McKeon as a first-year electrical apprentice in 2007. I successfully completed it in 2014 and then worked through the dark times of the recession. In that time, I’ve worked as an electrician, site foreman, contracts manager and now electrical services director.”

Neil’s wide range of roles has seen him completing major projects with clients including Dublin City University, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Trinity Townhouse and helped him to develop a team of innovative and motivated electricians.

“I’ve organically grown with the company and learned so much throughout my journey. I think the big thing with McKeon is that you don’t get pigeonholed into one role – you’re open to all aspects of the industry.”

Apprenticeship Programmes

McKeon Group offers a range of apprenticeship programmes and boasts a hugely successful electrical apprenticeship. Currently, there are eight budding sparkies working with Neil and the team and he is incredibly proud to be leading them.

Neil has also completed a Project Management Diploma which allowed him to learn more from an academic standpoint, an essential qualification that has helped him rise to the top of the division.

From deep energy retrofits to educational, commercial, and industrial fit-outs, there are plenty of new projects coming through the pipeline that will demand even more from Neil and his team.

“I am excited to see the division grow even further because we have so many exciting projects that we have won and others that we would love to win. To do this, we need to recruit more people who are eager to learn and grow and push the future of the division. It sounds cliché, but hard work really does pay off. Even if you don’t think anyone has noticed it.”

Work with McKeon Group

If you want to join McKeon Group take a look at our Open Positions on our Careers Page. We’re always looking for dynamic and engaged people to join our team. If you’re passionate, innovative and want to work with a company with over 70 years’ experience, email your CV to careers@mckeon.ie.