AT your service
AT Sand & Gravel Ltd. provides a thorough nationwide service, supplying top quality products to the precast industry, builders and the general public alike.

Across the globe
Before the Celtic Tiger hit this country in the early nineties, emigration was common place among the younger generation as they set about seeking their fortune in lands far afield.

A proud tradition
For over 50 years, the Fitzsimons name has been synonymous with the haulage business in and around Navan, County Meath. Damian Fitzsimons’ father, and grandfather before him, got the family business up and running and Damian now oversees the various facets of the operation alongside his daughter, Robyn

Out of site ...
Joe Flynn Site Excavations specialises in demolition, site excavation and mobile cranes. Newly-relocated to a larger depot in Blessington, the company is also a fully-registered waste collection permit holder, covering a number of regions. Irish Trucker spoke to founder Joe Flynn about the twelve-year history of his company.

Supplying the nation
In April 2004 Lagan Holdings Limited was restructured into five separate companies each following more closely its specific activities and in 2006 the Lagan companies reported a combined turnover of £

A decade of progression
Within ten short years, Shane Tully Plant Hire & Groundworks has certainly come a long way. The company offers a varied service, providing the construction industry with a wide range of stone products from its quarry in Ballina as well as ancillary plant hire and construction services.

Carrickboy Quarries - the crushed stone specialists
Carrickboy Quarries Ltd is a leading supplier of crushed stone in midlands area. The Co. Longford-based company was established four years ago by brothers Albert and Dermot Manning, whose background is steeped in quarrying.

McQuaid Quarries continue to supply
Ireland has a number of quarry based companies that supply sand and gravel etc to the many building firms and the private sector throughout the country.

Boyle having a blast at western base
Gerry McManus set up Boyle Quarries Ltd in 2002. Quarry Manager Dermot Gilheaney was involved in its establishment and as he explained to Cian O Raghallaigh, all at the company have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

McElvaney Motors: Rock solid deal with Roadstone
In early 2006 McElvaney Motors secured a sale of 8 trucks to Roadstone.

Quarry company set for the long haul
Allman Stone Ltd have proven themselves in both the haulage and stone-crushing business over the last few years. Now they aim to maintain their success writes Cian O Raghallaigh.

Donnell & Ellis - the heavy haulage specialists
Donnell & Ellis is a thriving transport/heavy haulage firm based in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. The company offers quick, reliable, efficient and cost effective solutions for the movement of quarry equipment and large plant machinery in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Demand for quarry vehicles
Demand for short-term hire of quarry related road vehicles has been a major factor in Kel-Berg Trailers and Trucks Ltd decision to enter this market.

Generations of quarrying excellence
Kereen Quarries Ltd. is a well-run family business that is going stronger than ever half a century down the line. Proprietor Michael Cummins has overseen a period of considerable growth for the past decade or so and intends to consolidate the Dungarvan companyÕs status in the greater scheme of things. Irish Trucker met up with the personable director to retrace KereenÕs history and, naturally, we decided to check out the impressive fleet while we were thereÉ

A local dispute
Upwards on 50 jobs in the haulage industry could be created in Co. Limerick if the local council gives the green light to a proposed limestone quarry in Ferrybridge near Kildimo. But opposition to the plan is mounting.

A crushing blow
During the mid-seventies, Thomas Noel O’Reilly made the momentous decision to open his own quarry and supply many contractors in the area with crushed stone.

The plant hire and quarry specialists
Tom Marsh Plant Hire and Quarry Supplies is a thriving operation based in Broadford, Co. Clare. Here, Tom Marsh provides us with the lowdown on what the company has to offer and explains how the construction boom has contributed to the businessÕ growth.

Rock and roll
Rhyne Rock Ltd is a family-owned business that works in the quarry industry and managing director Mick Blessington reviewed the company’s success with Irish Trucker.

New guidelines regulating quarries
In April 2004, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government issued planning authorities with new guidelines for regulating quarries and ancillary activities.

Aggregate Score
Providing a nationwide service, Irish Aggregates Ltd. is Ireland’s leading supplier of decorative aggregates to the construction and landscaping industries. Irish Trucker paid a visit to the company’s County Cork depot to find out more.

Transport in the blood
Slane Co. Meath native, Brendan Bagnall has carved out a successful career in the haulage industry, sub-contracting to Roadstone Provinces Ltd in the North East. He took time out from his busy schedule to talk trucking with Irish Trucker.

Callan continues to expand
Callan Sand & Gravel has carved out a fine reputation for the supply of sand gravel and associated quarry products, since the company was formed in 2003. Irish Trucker visited the company at its headquarters near Naas, in Co. Kildare and found out that it has considerably more than one string to its bow.

Kerrigan's Quarry and Plant Hire goes from strength to strength
Seamus Kerrigan invested in his first excavator in 1971 and worked on land reclamation, forestry plantation and road making.

Clare's Mr Chips
Bobby O’Connell has close on 30 years experience in the quarrying industry, and has a fine reputation as supplier of high quality crushed rock and associated quarry products.

Hugh P. on haulage
Hugh P. Doherty has been in construction haulage and site clearance for more than quarter of a century. Irish Trucker caught up with the affable haulier at his base in Buncrana, Co. Donegal and filed his report.

Train with the professionals
If you are interested in a driving career in the haulage, construction or quarrying sectors or just want to hone your driving skills, MJM Training in Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone offers a wide range of training courses, out of the very top drawer.

Barrett's continue to grow
The Barrett Group, encompassing Neill Mullin & Sons and Mullin Concrete, is a leading supplier of concrete products on both sides of the Border. John Loughran reports.

Tipping the scales as the IRHA prepares to change the guard
Over the years the IRHA has campaigned vigorously on the issue of unlicensed haulage. The association will continue to lobby in this regard, while Caulfield is at the rudder, he assured Irish Trucker.

Keeping it in the family
The McDaid family has been involved in the quarrying industry in their native Co. Donegal for more than 40 years. In a special report Irish Trucker reviews the family’s long and proud track record.

The Blessington brothers
The topography of north Wicklow lends itself to the extraction of sand and gravel. One of the best exponents of the trade, Hudson Brothers Ltd has more than 30 years experience in the business. Tom Hudson gave Irish Trucker an overview of the company's operations.

A proud family tradition
The McCaffrey name has been synonymous with the quarrying industry in Co. Fermanagh for three generations. Based in Teemore, Derrylin, McCaffrey Concrete Products Ltd carries on a proud family tradition that stretches back more than 60 years.

Sands of time
Meath man Damien Dixon recently established his own sand and gravel company at Raharney, Co Westmeath. Damien told Irish Trucker his move away from muck shifting and site clearance was a natural progression.

Brother and sister in arms
Callan Sand & Gravel supplies sand, gravel and associated quarry products to a host of customers throughout Co. Kildare and the greater Dublin area. Company secretary Elaine Callan gave Irish Trucker an overview of the company's operations.

A quarry company with few peers
WJ &H Crozier consisting of partners Harry, Alan, Philip and Geoffrey Crozier, based at Outlack Road, Armagh has few peers in the quarrying sector in Northern Ireland, producing a wide range of products including clean aggregates, bitmac and asphalt. Company director and transport manager Geoffrey Crozier took time out from his busy schedule to speak with Irish Trucker.

Building on solid foundations in the sunny south east
Murphy Construction Services just outside Wexford Town was established in 1996 by local businessman Liam Murphy. It has been onwards and upwards for this progressive company ever since. John Loughran filed this report from the sunny southeast.

A family affair
Limerick based Moore Transport is a family owned and run quarry haulage company par excellence. Founder Pat Moore took time out from his busy schedule to speak with Irish Trucker.

Quarryfit - a total solutions provider
Quarryfit Ltd specialises in the manufacture, erection and maintenance of quarry plant and machinery from its base in Carrickmore, near Omagh in Co. Tyrone. Owner Terry McGee told Irish Trucker the company can offer an all encompassing service to quarry owners.

Moving mountains
Bobby O'Connell and Sons based in Ardnacrusha in Co Clare celebrates 25 years in quarrying this year. John Loughran visited the company's impressive 47-acre quarry last month and was overawed by the sheer scale of operations.

The Boys for the Black Stuff
All truck drivers show a certain degree of pride in their vehicles through accessorisation and an individual personal touch. However, Co. Cork haulier John Flaherty has taken this to the furthest extreme and achieved what can only be described as the smartest tipper in active service here. Maintained in showroom condition despite its arduous two year working life, the 8x4 Scania 114C is one of two currently run by John’s company Pearl Transport.

Regular roadside assistance - and much more besides
Belfast-based John Beers Plant & Commercial Repairs specialises in the repair of lorries, trailers, diggers and essentially all types of vehicles and machinery. Its wide-ranging sphere of expertise also extends to incorporate a comprehensive 24-hour breakdown recovery service.

A family affair
B McCaffrey & Sons Ltd, specialises in producing readymix concrete and limestone products from its base at Derrylin in Co Fermanagh. Transport manager, Sean McCaffrey gave an overview of the company’s operations to John Loughran.

P.Clarke & Sons purchase Scania from McElvaney Motors Ltd
P. Clarke & Sons Ltd, based in Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh was incorporated in 1953, although the business has been trading since 1930. Today, the company has 200 employees and has offices in Dublin, Cavan, Sligo, Portlaoise and New Ross.

TBF Thompson teams up with Atlas Terex
The TBF Thompson Group has been a distributor of construction and quarrying equipment for more than 40 years. Recently the company was appointed sole distributors for the island of Ireland for Atlas Terex truck mounted cranes. Sales director for the Republic of Ireland Garry Kehoe told John Loughran the group is delighted with the appointment.

No stone unturned
Ballyboden Stone Quarry Ltd., is a family owned and run business which specialises in the supply of the highest quality crushed stone, sand and gravel, in counties Dublin and Wicklow and offers site clearance and onsite crushing and screening throughout the country. John Loughran reports.

Construction hauliers feel the squeeze
For years construction haulage owner-operators have been encouraged by consignors to overload their vehicles to compensate for poor rates.

Getting the mix right
Euro Truckmixers Ltd, based near Cookstown in Co Tyrone has developed a new lightweight truck mounted concrete mixer in response to growing market demand. Owner Danny McIvor told John Loughran that the company’s new mixer is up to 1,000kgs lighter than competing mixers on the market.

The trucker friendly TD
Conor Lenihan came to prominence as a champion of construction hauliers earlier this year when RTE's Prime Time programme highlighted the problem of overloading in the construction sector.

Like father, like son
His father Gus has spent more than 40 years behind the wheel. Paul and his brother Paddy followed in their father’s footsteps as John Loughran found out.

Moving Mountains
White Mountain Quarries, part of the Lagan Group was established in 1960 on the outskirts of Belfast.

Going it alone
John Kenny set up his own transport company in 1990 when the opportunity arose to haul bulk cement for Roadstone Provinces Ltd., in the Galway area. He looked back on an eventful ten years with John Loughran.

A window of opportunity
Eyeing an opportunity and then seizing the moment is what makes entrepreneurs stand out from the rest of us mere mortals. In this regard, Tyrone native Sean Jordan is a man who is deserving of our respect.