Obelisk have the solution ...

Cavan-based company Obelisk Sports Lighting Solutions are leading specialists in sports lighting. Here, Obelisk technical director Colm Murphy and senior quantity surveyor Noel Gilmartin provide us with a low-down on what the company has to offer.

While sports lighting has been commonplace in countries such as the UK and US for many years, it has only been in the past decade that it has taken off in Ireland.

Many sporting organisations in this country now boast floodlighting facilities and as the trend towards more night-time sports fixtures continues to grow, the demand for sports lighting has never been so great. More and more clubs are discovering that floodlighting facilities are within their budget and one company that offers a top quality product, at a competitive rate, is Obelisk Sports Lighting Solutions.

Based in the Enterprise Centre, Dublin Road, Cavan, Obelisk Sports Lighting Solutions has specialised in the design and manufacture of systems for lighting sports fields since 1996. The company covers a range of sports from Gaelic football to hurling to soccer to rugby, and also provides a wide range of lighting levels from training to match play to televised standards.

“Sports lighting has really taken off in Ireland and we are leading specialists in that area,” says Colm Murphy, technical director of Obelisk Sports Lighting Solutions.

“It’s a growing market and we can offer the best system at an excellent price. No matter what type of lighting a club is looking for, we can provide it,” he adds.

Obelisk offers innovative systems, a comprehensive package of services and also boasts a broad experience in this field. Offering solutions for both permanent and temporary lighting needs, the company has attained first-hand knowledge of lighting issues that affect participants, spectators and television.

From its Cavan base, Obelisk Sports Lighting Solutions has a national reach and has installed a number of successful lighting project systems in different parts of the country.

One of the first GAA-related sports lighting projects Obelisk carried out was at the Simonstown Gaels club in Navan, Co. Meath in early 1999. Since then, Simonstown has become one of the busiest venues in Leinster, staging many floodlit matches each year. By hosting the 2001 O’Byrne Cup clash between Meath and Longford, Simonstown became the first GAA venue to stage a floodlit game under the auspices of any provincial council.

Obelisk has completed numerous projects since then for a variety of sporting organisations. Their list of satisfied clients include Kingscourt, Longford Slashers and Cashel GAA clubs, Fanad United FC and Ballinasloe FC. They have also installed sports lighting for a number of rugby clubs nationwide.

Before a club decides to have sports lighting installed, many factors have to be taken into consideration according to Obelisk senior quantity surveyor Noel Gilmartin.

“Funding and planning are the two big issues,” he says.

“A lot of jobs we would price are subject to National Lottery funding and often clubs have to wait several months for this money to come through.

“Clubs also have to take into account that planning permission has to be secured in most cases before sports lighting can be installed. Clubs in towns and the built-up areas must be especially aware of this. But as part of our service, we are happy to assist clubs with the planning process.”

Obelisk’s services consist of a full turnkey package which includes solution design, foundation installation, duct installation, structure supply and erection, floodlight installation and alignment as well as full project management.

The company supplies floodlight support structures to any required height with loading and configuration also included. Accessories include lighting fixtures, switch gear, control gear and cabling.

“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing with us,” Gilmartin points out. “If a club is only interested in having poles or lights supplied or even having their system designed, we would be very happy to oblige.”
Obelisk Sports Lighting Solutions is a subsidiary of Obelisk Communications which employs 150 staff overall. As already mentioned, Obelisk’s head office is in Cavan but it also has project offices in Cork, Belfast, Dublin and Galway. Its logistics department is based in Portlaoise.

Specialising in providing towers, masts and pylons to the telecommunications sector, Obelisk Communications has been honoured at local, national and international level. In 1999, the company was runner-up in the Cavan County Enterprise Awards. The following year, Obelisk won both the Cavan County Enterprise and National Enterprise awards. In 2001, the company represented Ireland in the World Young Business Achievers competition in Warsaw, Poland and came away with two awards.

In 2002 and 2004, Obelisk was highly recommended at the All-Island Trade and Business awards. It received ISO9001-2000 accreditation in 2003.

Because of the Obelisk’s strong links with the communications industry, clubs that have sports lighting installed may benefit financially from having a mobile phone antenna incorporated into one of the masts.

As well as being technical director, Colm Murphy is proprietor of the company along with Padraig Brady and Declan O’Neill, who was appointed group finance director in January. Both Colm and Padraig have known each other since their school days in Co. Longford.

“We both attended Moyne Community School and played football for Dromard up through the ranks. I emigrated to London in 1989 and Padraig headed over at around the same time.

“While in London, we played for St. Teresa’s for a while. We both returned to Ireland in 1996 and decided to set up Obelisk Communications together,” Colm explains.

In more recent times, Obelisk Communications have extended their interests to the property sector, forging a strong relationship with Shire Developments. However, the company remains committed to developing the best sports lighting solutions anywhere in Ireland.

For further information,
contact Colm Murphy or Noel Gilmartin
at Obelisk Sports Lighting Solutions,
Enterprise Centre, Dublin Road, Cavan, Co. Cavan.
Telephone: 049-4371044. Fax: 049-4371045.
Email: info@obelisk.com