As well as being one of the principle civil engineering/construction and materials companies in Ireland, the Lagan Group is also a true friend of gaelic games - and Meath GAA in particular. In 2006, the Group once more provided invaluable assistance (as both sponsor and supporter) to the national code in the Royal County, making an important contribution to a memorable year. As another calendar year comes to pass, it's that time again when we cast our minds back over the events that shaped the season. Here in Meath, it was an exciting year on a number of fronts and the local club scene especially produced unprecedented drama. The 2006 intermediate football championship was one of the most dramatic in living memory, thanks in no small part to the valued support of the Lagan Group, an entity that has offered sterling support to Meath GAA over the years. By virtue of a thrilling 1-10 to 2-6 defeat of Drumconrath at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday October 15, Rathkenny claimed the Meath IFC for the first time since 1934. Drumconrath were hoping to go senior for the first time in their history but the Red & Blacks prevailed in a titanic struggle before their peerless captain and former Meath stalwart Donal Curtis sparked wild celebrations as he took possession of the Mattie McDonnell Cup. It really was an emotional climax to one of the closest-fought championships witnessed in Meath in years and it was a special day too for one of Meath GAA's most loyal patrons: the Lagan Group. Sponsor of the Meath intermediate championship, the Lagan Group also took over sponsorship of Rathkenny during the year. On hand to present the silverware was Terry Lagan, himself a huge follower of gaelic games. Indeed, sponsorship aside, the Group boasts many strong connections with the GAA. Chief executive Jackie Duffy is a massive Tyrone fan and there are a number of ardent gaels working throughout the group. Back in Meath, recent Royal County underage selector Macartan McGroder manages Irish Asphalt in Duleek. In April 2004, Lagan Holdings Ltd. was restructured into five specialist companies (Lagan Holdings, Lagan Cement Group, Lagan Brick, Lagan Developments and Lagan Homes). These remain in private ownership, allowing the Group to operate strongly within the following divisions: civil engineering; quarry materials; brick; cement; house building; piling; and property development. Together, the various divisions of the Lagan Group rank among the leading civil engineering, construction and materials companies in Ireland. Privately owned, these companies represent a vast workforce active throughout the world in markets as diverse as the UK, the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific. Each company pursues a policy of independent operation. Such self-sufficiency and autonomy enables individual companies to nurture long-term relationships with customers and to foresee and be responsive to local requirements. Companies also benefit from ongoing reinvestment as well as the combined financial strength of their group, technical resources and shared intra-company expertise. Headquartered in Belfast and with a worldwide presence from Derry to the West Indies and Limerick to the Bahamas, the Lagan Group was founded almost 50 years ago with quarrying as its core business. The Group now employs a combined workforce in excess of 1,400, with a combined turnover of £299m sterling (2005). A strong re-investment policy is implemented across all companies. A name synonymous with the quarrying and construction industries in Northern Ireland for the past 46 years, Lagan is highly active throughout Ireland, the UK and beyond. In international markets, the civil engineering division continues to expand, providing a highly reputable service over a wide range of engineering disciplines. Quarrying, Lagan's original business activity, retains a key role within the portfolio. Lagan produces in excess of 3.5 million tonnes of quarry material every year with reserves to serve the market well into the future. In addition to quarrying, the materials, cement and bricks divisions manufacture or supply bitumen, sand, cement, roof tiles, ready mix concrete, concrete blocks, bricks and clay products. The specialist piling, caps and beams division operates across Ireland, while there is also a mature property development and house building division. The Group's Mission Statement reads: "To be the most efficient, profitable and leading private company in its industrial sector by serving its customers to the highest standards of professionalism and quality, with employees benefiting from the stability of the Lagan brand in a harmonious and safe working environment in all countries in which we operate." While each Lagan board consists of a range of experienced professionals, all companies are under the complete proprietorship of brothers Kevin and Michael Lagan. Kevin and Michael have dedicated their professional careers to the development of the original quarrying business founded by their late father Peter in 1960. Under their leadership, the Group has developed an impressive portfolio of construction-related companies which make up the Lagan brand. All Lagan companies are fully conscientious, safety-minded and environmentally aware. Since the early 'nineties, a central Lagan Environmental Unit has implemented various programmes to improve the environmental performance within individual Lagan companies. All manufacturing, supply and contracting companies have achieved third party accreditation to ISO 14001:2004 and each company now manages its own system. Thorough and successful in everything it does, the Lagan Group is an ideal partner for Meath GAA. Tweet

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