Leading the charge: PeopleFirst speaks to Head of Learning and Development John Boylan
Planning a complex military operation is second nature to Kirby’s Head of Learning and Development John Boylan. Having spent 12 years as an Officer in the Irish Defence Forces, he is used to creating, training and mobilising high-performing teams at home and abroad. It’s a skill set he has developed further through roles in the […]
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“Now is an exciting time to work in Power and Renewables,” says Senior Project Manager Brishay Stalker
In this #PeopleFirst, we speak to a woman working at the forefront of the renewable energy sector. Based in our Inverurie office, Brishay Stalker works across multiple projects to connect sustainable energy sources to the grid for SSE. She leads an agile team of six who design, construct, and upgrade new and existing substations across […]
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“For me an apprenticeship was the ticket to travel and the passport to the next step in my career,” says Eileen Faherty, Commercial Lead
When Eileen Faherty started her apprenticeship in 1998, she was the only female on her course, and one of the few on site. “Things were different in the 90s. The sites were not set up with the facilities and work environments we have now,” explains Eileen, who now leads a team of eight quantity surveyors […]
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From apprentice to Group Director: Ruairí Ryan reflects on his career and Kirby’s People-First culture as he joins the Board
As Kirby Group Engineering welcomes four new board members, we explore the career of Ruairí Ryan, Group Director of Operations. With nearly three decades of service at Kirby, Ruairí’s rise through the ranks is a testament to the company’s commitment to apprenticeships and its people-first culture. In our People First series of interviews, we explore […]
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“As I progressed through roles in project management, operations, and leadership, I came to understand that Kirby’s success is built on its people.” says Mark Flanagan, Kirby Chief Executive Officer
Over 30 years ago, Mark Flanagan joined Kirby as an electrician, unaware of the remarkable journey that lay ahead. Reflecting on that time, he remarked, “When I joined Kirby over 30 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the journey ahead. At the time, I was focused on learning and doing the best job I could. […]
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“Training and development have been a huge part of my journey. I’ve learned so much about management and programme oversight, and how to effectively lead the team,” says Gowri Shankar, Kirby Regional Planning Manager
Exploration, adventure, and personal growth led Gowri to join Kirby in 2019. Based in Sweden with a six-person team, he is working closely with the Kirby project teams to deliver data centres for a key customer in Sweden. For Gowri, planning was a natural fit for his skills. As a trained engineer, he is an […]
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“Safety is a universal concept, but how we value, apply, and interpret it can vary,” says Kirby’s Chris Bonnington as he explores the company’s Zero Harm vision
In this People First, we speak to Chris Bonnington, Group EHS Manager at Kirby and a driving force behind our Zero Harm vision. Chris has built his career through the industry, with a Masonry Apprenticeship in Canterbury, New Zealand, followed by a Carpentry Apprenticeship and commercial construction qualifications in Australia. In the early 2000s, he […]
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“Digital construction is unlocking critical infrastructure projects at pace,” says Kirby’s Paul Calitz as we catch up with him as part of our People First series
Speaking from our office in Cape Town, South Africa, he tells the story of the evolution of the global digital construction team, with specialists working on projects across Europe and the UK. Paul has hand-selected more than 20 BIM (Building Information Modelling) specialists from varied and diverse backgrounds – ship building, architecture, steelwork, shop fabrication, […]
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We ask Graduate Aisha and Apprentice Lennan to answer your questions on Leaving Certificate results day
As young people across Ireland open their Leaving Cert results, we explore the early careers routes available to the next generation of engineering talent. In this #PeopleFirst interview we ask third-year Electrical Apprentice, Lennan Doyle, and Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Aisha Maida, the questions we are asked most by people exploring their early careers options. They […]
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“We know that movement is incredibly important in maintaining good mental health and resilience” says Kirby’s Peter Kearns
As our people gear up to tackle the Kirby Way Cycle challenge again this year, we catch up with Senior Planning Manager Peter Kearns in our latest #PeopleFirst article. For the last number of years, Peter has been our dedicated organiser, coordinating Get-Fit Challenges to support people in reaching their fitness goals, through activities […]
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“Kirby will put its arms around you and help you to achieve your goals,” says Site Manager Noel Norton
Site Manager Noel Norton is on the fast track to the next step in his career. We catch up with him in this #PeopleFirst as he explores his journey with Kirby so far. Noel joined Kirby as an Electrician nine years ago. Now a Site Manager, he has benefitted from more than 400 hours in […]
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“Communication, collaboration and teamwork are key to a successful health and safety culture,” says Nikoleta Solueva, EHS Project Lead
For Nikoleta Solueva, team safety culture remains the key to a safe site. In this #PeopleFirst, we headed to our data centre project in Gävle, Sweden, where Nikoleta and our safety team work with more than 300 Kirby employees, subcontractors, and the main contractor to establish an environment that prioritises safety and wellbeing. A site […]
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“Operating within our span of control to ensure value and delivery is of critical importance,” says Jimmy Kirby, Executive Chairman, in this #PeopleFirst
As we continue to explore the people who have shaped and are shaping our business, we delve into strategy, sustainable business, and stability with Executive Chairman Jimmy Kirby. When you speak to Jimmy his passion for strategy is clear. Paired with his deep understanding of the M&E and construction industry, and his drive to ensure […]
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“The doors are open to women looking to grow their careers in the engineering and construction industry” says Marketing Manager Claire Brennan
As we mark International Women’s Day (March 8), we speak to Marketing Manager Claire Brennan about growing her career at Kirby, a dedication to young people in sport, and growing representation in STEM. Having been with Kirby for four years, Claire has seen Kirby’s growth first hand as she worked to promote and mark the […]
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“Ireland and Kirby have opened up career opportunities for me,” says Yalin Tumbali, Commercial Manager at Kirby
In this #PeopleFirst we speak to our Commercial Manager Yalin Tumbali, based out of our Dublin office, he works across a number of projects, overseeing their mechanical packages. Yalin joined Kirby in 2022, as he moved from Turkey to Ireland, seeking further experience in data centres. Incredibly experienced, he held a number of roles in […]
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“Lots of good things started in 1964,” says Payroll Manager Helen Keogh who shares her birthday year with Kirby Group Engineering
In this #PeopleFirst we speak to Helen Keogh, Payroll Manager, who, alongside Kirby, turns 60 this year. Helen first joined us in Limerick in 1983 at 19 years old to work on the reception. “We had an office in Thomondgate, it was a converted house and shop. At that point we had around 80 employees, […]
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“I want everyone I work with to feel the same way I have felt since I joined Kirby nine years ago: trusted, valued, and appreciated,” says Brendan Coffey, Kirby Operations Manager – Leinster.
We speak to Brendan Coffey, Kirby’s Operations Manager for the Leinster region, as he celebrates nine years with us. He joined Kirby as a Senior Project Manager in December 2014 to manage the Telecity data centre project in Dublin. He reflects: “The company was much smaller at that point; we turned over around €165m. At […]
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“Construction Safety Month has seen us focus in on project-specific, critical risks,” says Kirby’s EHS Regional Manager, Yvonne McCawley
We spoke to EHS Regional Manager Yvonne McCawley about the importance of the CIF’s Construction Safety Month and her role in ensuring a safety-first culture at Kirby. “This is the first year that the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is running its safety campaign over a full month. Four weeks gives us the chance to explore […]
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“Kirby is a learning organisation; we have two-way conversations with key stakeholders, and we always listen and learn,” says Aidan McAuliffe, Kirby Procurement Manager for Europe
In this #PeopleFirst we speak to Aidan McAuliffe, our Procurement Manager for Europe. Having worked in procurement for over 15 years, he’s worked with Kirby for the last six years to develop supply chains and material supplier arrangements across the continent. His background at Kerry Group, Nestle and Bord Gáis has supported Kirby’s expansion, as […]
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“The people around you at Kirby have been in your shoes. They are genuinely invested in you and your learning,” says fourth year Electrical Apprentice Cathal Hanley
Kirby is proud of its people-first approach, which has seen many of its top team grow their careers with the company. It’s this approach that has seen us invest heavily in growing the next generation of engineering talent, with more than 200 apprentices currently employed. Cathal Hanley joined Kirby in 2019 as an Electrical Apprentice […]
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“Kirby recruits for the culture, and you can tell,” says Kirby stalwart Michelle Madden, Senior Estimating Co-ordinator
In this #PeopleFirst interview we speak to Michelle Madden, Senior Estimating Co-ordinator at Kirby. There is always that one person in an organisation; the one that everyone goes to when they need to know something. For Kirby, that person is Michelle Madden. She has been with us for 22 years and has trained up numerous […]
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“It’s important for young girls to see themselves represented in engineering,” says Michelle Powell as she talks about our school outreach programme
We speak to HR Business Partner Michelle Powell, in advance of International Women in Engineering Day on the 23rd of June. Overseeing Kirby’s apprenticeship and outreach programmes, she champions women in engineering in schools and colleges across Ireland. Kirby has worked in partnership with Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) for 10 years, delivering outreach […]
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“Our estimating team plays a vital role in bringing complex projects to site,” says Kirby Group E&I and T&D Estimating Manager, Declan Gavin
In this #PeopleFirst series we catch up with Declan Gavin, Group Electrical Estimating Manager for our Low Voltage (LV) and Power (T&D) business units. Heading up a large team, he has been with Kirby for more than 15 years and has seen the business grow and develop into the company it is today. “Kirby has […]
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“Kirby is unique. I have seen it grow, nurture talent and deliver consistently for its long-term clients,” says William Brosnan, Operations Manager, Munster
In this #PeopleFirst we catch up with Kirby’s Operations Manager for Munster. He celebrates 33 years with us this year and talks about the growth of the company from 60 direct employees in 1990 to 1,400 in 2023. He is proud of his part in the tale, at the front of many firsts, including the […]
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“Diversity of thought and experience will transform the future of engineering,” says Rosangela Condori, who received a bursary from Kirby to study renewable and electrical energy engineering
In this #PeopleFirst we speak to Rosangela Condori, a second-year student at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). Rosangela was one of four students chosen for Kirby’s bursary scheme, which was developed to promote women in engineering and launched in 2022. Rosangela has a passion for people, the environment and the impact engineering can have, both […]
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“The choice isn’t between an apprenticeship or college, you can do both,” says Kirby Turnover Engineer Brendan Muldowney
With 10 years under his belt, former Kirby apprentice and Limerick Institute of Technology graduate Brendan Muldowney reflects on the start of his career and looks forward to his future in this #PeopleFirst interview. One of Brendan’s career highlights to date was representing Ireland in industrial control at the World Skills competition in Abu Dhabi […]
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“By investing in its people, Kirby is investing in innovations and improvements for the future,” says Kirby Lead Planner Michael Bonandrini, as he studies data analytics and its application in construction and engineering
In this #PeopleFirst feature we speak to Michael Bonandrini. His passion for data and planning have seen him start a Master’s Degree in Data Analytics. Talking about machine learning algorithms detecting patterns in planning data, Michael demonstrates his real interest and excitement in this pioneering area of technological development. Michael joined the team in Dublin […]
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“Diversity is a source of richness; we see that on site every day,” says Dr. Francesca Balbi, Kirby’s HR and Compliance Lead for Italy
We catch up with Dr. Francesca Balbi on our data centre project in Milan, Italy, as part of this #PeopleFirst interview. A recent addition to Kirby, Francesca has spent the majority of her career in academia, researching and teaching international and European law. It’s a calling that has allowed her to fulfil her passion for […]
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“Every Kirby colleague has a story of how the company has helped them personally or professionally,” says Paralegal Executive Suzanne Kirwan
“Every Kirby colleague has a story of how the company has helped them personally or professionally,” says Paralegal Executive Suzanne Kirwan In this #PeopleFirst article we speak to Suzanne Kirwan as she celebrates the completion of her barrister training at King’s Inn, Dublin. The soon-to-be barrister has spent the last year studying for the bar […]
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“Sports psychology and business have strong synergies; at Kirby we wear one jersey, we are a team,” says Kirby HR Officer and champion hurler Kyle Hayes
We sit down with Kyle Hayes as the Limerick hurling team celebrates its third All-Ireland title in a row. “Limerick is one of the most exciting places to be right now, the atmosphere is palpable,” says HR Officer and Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes, as we interview him for our #PeopleFirst series. He is settling back […]
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From South Africa to the Emerald Isle: “Kirby doesn’t just talk the talk, it really is a people-first company,” say couple Melandri and André van Zyl
“I can’t tell you how easy Kirby made the transition for us,” says HR Officer Melandri van Zyl as she talks to us for our #PeopleFirst series. Sitting next to her is her husband and co-worker André, Senior Cost Engineer, as they discuss their move across the world from South Africa to Limerick, Ireland. “I […]
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”I want girls to know engineering is a career option from a young age,” says Kirby’s Electrical Engineering Manager, Amy Lane
I want to imagine a future when we don’t need an International Women in Engineering Day. A future when children aren’t encouraged into one career or another because of their sex. A future when there are no male- or female-dominated industries,” says Amy Lane, Electrical Engineering Manager at Kirby. We speak to her as part […]
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“I have definitely had opportunities that I wouldn’t have been given with other contractors,” says Kirby project manager Leroy Walker
In this #PeopleFirst we catch up with Leroy Walker, one of Kirby’s youngest project managers as he hands over a new clean room to our longstanding client, medical device manufacturer Boston Scientific. The 34-year-old father of two started with Kirby in 2006 as an Electrical Apprentice. He has progressed through the ranks, from Site Supervisor, […]
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‘‘Becoming part of a senior management team was a huge achievement – especially as a young non-Irish woman.’ Giedre Visockaite, Associate Director – Strategy and Marketing
CIF Construction Magazine recently spoke to Giedre Visockaite, as part of their special feature on ‘Championing Women in Construction in 2022’. Click here to read the article in pdf format. Originally from Lithuania, Giedre Visockaite is Associate Director of Strategy and Marketing with Kirby Group Engineering. In the 10 years since joining Kirby – something […]
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“This work Kirby does for DIY SOS is providing homes, not just houses for families who are in exceptional circumstances and dire need through no fault of their own.” Stephen Brennan, Site Manager and DIY SOS Lead
To many in Kirby, Stephen Brennan is known as a beguiling Site Manager from Glinsk, County Galway and to many around the country, he’s known as Stephen from DIY SOS, the Electrical Foreman with the hearty laugh and the cheeky grin. Whether it’s having the laughs with Baz and the gang or working insane hours […]
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“Engineering is an incredibly rewarding career, and one that I would strongly recommend to young women considering their career choices,” says Turnover Engineer Cova Fernandez
We continue our #PeopleFirst series with Turnover Engineer Cova Fernandez. Speaking from her home office in Dublin, she enthuses about BIM 360 and the transformation it has delivered to the industry over the last 10 years and discusses flexible working as a mum of two. Joining Kirby in 2015 as Technical Bid Lead, she’s now […]
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Really great to hear such positive and enthusiastic feedback from one of our Graduate Project Planners
As part of our #PeopleFirst series, we have been talking to one of Kirby’s Graduate Project Planners, Joe Ronaldson, about why he chose his profession and what he enjoys about life at Kirby. “In 2018, I graduated with an ME in Mechanical Engineering from UCD. I was lucky enough to spend a gap year in […]
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‘I get to talk to my engineering heroes every day’ – #INWED2021
Today marks International Women in Engineering Day 2021 – an occasion that seeks to celebrate the work and achievements of women engineers. This year has put a particular focus on womens’ engineering heroes. Eve Cassidy, who works with Kirby Group Engineering thought carefully before nominating a group of people she felt fit the bill. “In […]
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