Siblings make a mark in haulage

The Halligan name has been synonymous with the shipping industry for decades and with the enthusiasm of two brothers, they can continue to develop their reputation.

Mick and Mark Halligan take time out from their busy schedule

When the first Road Haulage Licence was granted to Anthony Halligan in 1933, little did the Halligan family know that over 72 years later, the company would still be retained under the family name. The main business then was the delivery of kegs from Guinness Brewery, Dublin, to pubs in Newbridge and surrounding area. Following that, business continued to be generated through the family name.

"My father's aunt Lucy took over the running of it for a number of years," says financial director, Mark Halligan.
Following his grandfather's death in 1967 the licence changed hands to his father, Michael Halligan senior. In total Michael senior gave 32 years of his life to the business, retiring in March 1999 though he still does some work for the company.
The legacy of the Halligan family did not end there, however. Mark and his brother Michael took over the running of the company which became known as Halligan Transport Ltd in 1999.
Mark explains his background in the business.

"I worked in the accountancy office for three or four years before getting into this. My brother Michael was involved since the early eighties.
"The company is based in Naas and delivers containers to and from Dublin Port all over the country.
"We deliver for MacAndrews Shipping in Dublin, Aquaship Agencies Ltd and Shipping and Transport Ltd," he says.
Halligan Transport Ltd have four trucks at the moment and apart from Mark and Michael Halligan, they have four others employed on the payroll (there are two drivers and two directors). His mother Rita works in the accounts section while Michael junior is now involved in operations and maintenance and also helps to organise transport.

One of the company's DAF trucks. Halligan Transport Ltd have a total of three DAF vehicles

Like any transport operation there are inevitable difficulties. It is no different with Halligan Transport Ltd.
"The biggest headache is the traffic coming out of Dublin Port - you don't know how it will work out. I can remember six or seven years ago I could leave at eight. Now I'd be on the road before six o'clock in the morning," says Mark.
Fuel costs are an additional difficulty. Insurance costs, he explains, are settling down despite the "big hike" a few years ago.

Overall, though, both Halligan brothers are immensely enjoying the expeince of running the company. When they took over initially there were only two lorries but since 2002 they have had four with another coming on stream in 2006. (They have three DAF lorries and one Scania and buy from DAF distributors in Baldonnel).
What then is the best part of the job?
"I love being on the road and working for myself and when the same customers keep ringing back you know Halligan Transport Ltd are doing something right," says Mark.