Join us as we take a look back at 2023, a year that showed our capacity to successfully complete over 800 contracts ranging in budget from a couple of hundred euro to over a million. 2024 will be our 51st year in business and promises to be another significant milestone in our success story.
From major contracts and expanding our operations to pushing boundaries in sustainability, it has been very satisfying to see all the hard work and dedication from our highly skilled people behind the scenes pay off.
Environmental Sustainability
We start by acknowledging our environmental initiatives. First the solar panel array we installed at our Dublin site which has exceeded our ambitious expectations for reducing our carbon footprint. A big thank you to Pinergy for guiding us through that enormous project.
We have also installed electric charging ports for cars and forklifts as we transition our fleet over to electric vehicles.
Our solar powered Dublin site!
We are aiming to place Irish Fencing at the forefront of sustainability, and are so proud to have reached our target goals for green certifications, that includes our annual surveillance audit to the EcoMerit Environmental Certification
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Partnering with Dublin City Council Local Enterprise Office on a Greenstart sustainability report conducted by Davy Horizons to analyse our operations and to identify additional areas for environmental improvement.
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A fine example of our commercially oriented green project that we are particularly proud of was our timber and mesh fencing project at Ardgillan Castle for Fingal County Council, which will facilitate larger scale tree planting at the site in 2024.
Building on that commitment, we are intensifying our engagement in both national and local biodiversity projects, placing a special emphasis on tree planting. This strategic move aims to contribute significantly to offsetting our carbon footprint through impactful reforestation efforts.
Tree Planting to reduce our carbon footprint
Regulatory Compliance
A company is only as good as its operations – and so we have renewed not only our sustainability certifications but also tested and renewed our EN 1090, ISO 9001, and Safe T Cert certifications, demonstrating the company’s commitment to high standards of construction – in a healthy and safe work environment.
Irish Fencing’s commitment to providing a safe workplace
Our dedicated efforts involve close collaboration with regulatory organisations, ensuring that our sustainability targets are not only met but elevated to the highest standards.
Some Projects on the Go at Year End!
In our 50th corporate anniversary year, we have increased turnover and profitability, and with our commitment to high standards in the business. We’re pleased to say that we were awarded a large number of major contracts.
We Finished quarter four of 2023 working on site at amongst others:
Contractors and Local Authority and Government
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Central Bank of Ireland with @Walls Construction and our automation partners @Electro Automation Ltd
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Clonmel Enterprises Ltd at Donnybrook Greenway and Kildare County Council Machinery Yard
Housing
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Cairn Homes Castletreasure, Bayly, Douglas, County Cork.
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Cunningham Contracts Nangor Rd. Clondalkin
Cairn Homes Castletreasure, Bayly, Douglas, County Cork
Education and Sports
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Special needs outdoor play units in 8 Schools for @Martin Reddin Construction (Portlaoise)
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Muga sports pitches with South Dublin County Council at Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, and Clondalkin.
Muga pitches at Sean Walsh Park Tallaght
Commercial Development and Contractors
An exciting project for John Sisk & Son Ltd at Coopers Cross, Sheriff St, North Docks, involving large gates to match aluminium cladding being installed by Aluclad.
As these projects progress we will be completing project reviews on our website.
Community Engagement
Throughout 2024, our commitment to supporting Lighthouse Club International the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Charity, continued with a special emphasis on the physical and mental well-being of those in the construction sector. Locally, our Christmas support extended to Peter McVerry Trust rust, and we proudly served as the major sponsor for the Race Night benefiting Our Canine Companions . This organisation, with its wonderfully trained dogs, provides essential comfort and skills to individuals with autism and their families.
Our engagement in the community continued with our support for the Ballyfermot Partnership and various local initiatives in Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard. Our sponsorship funded team rain jackets for Cherry Orchard United’s Under 18s football team.
Cherry Orchard United’s Under 18s football team in their Irish Fencing sponsored team raincoats which were probably critical in them winning The Ferrari Cup and coming second in the league
Over the past year, we sustained our involvement with ISME (of which our Founder Terry Hobdell was a founding member and had the honour of being the very first Chairman) during its 30th-anniversary celebration.
Terry Hobdell, Sarah Wilson and Shane Winters of Irish Fencing with John Purdy, Founder of Ergo and guest speaker at the ISME 30th-anniversary celebration
…A Fun Fact!
Business can be full of unusual surprises…. for the past 46 years we have produced our Irish Sporting Champions Calendar, which has been widely circulated among our community and clients.
Irish Fencing’s annual Irish sporting champions calendar
…And Finally
Looking ahead as we enter our sixth decade in business, here at Irish Fencing we’re filled with optimism for Irish Fencing’s future. We will build upon this year’s successes by staying committed to excellence, innovation and giving back. It is through collaborating with wonderful clients, suppliers, associations and community initiatives, and most of all our hardworking staff that we will continue progressing towards ever higher goals.