Good as Nugent

Nugent Manufacturing Ltd is one of a number of construction/manufacturing companies to have worked on the redevelopment of Croke Park. Managing director Stephen Nugent outlines the work the company has carried out at the Jones¹ Road venue and elsewhere.

Founded just three years ago, Nugent Manufacturing Ltd has achieved a lot in its short existence. One of its biggest undertakings has involved the erection of the fencing and metal gates at the new-look Croke Park.

Indeed, the GAA headquarters have become a second home for the Nugent Manufacturing team as the company has been working on the massive redevelopment project almost since day one.

“Since we set up the business in 1999, we have spent much of our time working in Croke Park,” explains Nugent Manufacturing managing director Stephen Nugent.

“It’s a huge project and even though there is still a bit of work to be done, it’s already one of the best stadiums in Europe. Obviously, we are proud to have an association with the development of such a fine stadium,” he adds.

Nugent Manufacturing was awarded the Croke Park contract after being recommended by Sisk Builders, the main contractors to the development. Specialises in steel fabrication and erection, the company has carried out all of the fencing work and the erection of metal gates. It has also manufactured and fitted steel walkways and undertaken other miscellaneous metalwork.

Stephen himself doesn’t have a GAA background but his wife Helen is related to two of Dublin’s best known gaels.

“Helen’s father, the late Eugene Clarke, played for O’Toole’s and Dublin for a number of years. He was a big hurling man and promoted the game whenever he could.

“An uncle of Helen’s, Con Clarke, is also a huge GAA man and was involved in the administration side of things for many years also,” he reveals.

Having lived in Ballymun and Sutton in his youth, Nugent is now happily settled with his family in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. He had worked in the construction industry for 20 years before deciding to set up Nugent Manufacturing three years ago. The business has proven to be highly successful and now employs 22 staff at its base in Maudlin’s Industrial Estate, Naas.

Apart from the Croke Park project, Nugent Manufacturing has also recently carried out work on the front of the Gaiety Theatre and at Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium (both in Dublin). Other recently completed contracts include Hewlett Packard (Leixlip), Rank Xerox (Dundalk), Dublin Mailing Centre, M50 Toll Bridge (Dublin), K-Club (Straffan) as well as multi-story carparks for Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt, Naas and Kilnamanagh.