It was a fine year for Monaghan transport firm Noel Flanagan Limited, which won a key prize at the Haulier of the Year awards in October. Deirdre Flanagan spoke to the Monaghan GAA Yearbook about the company's success. Monaghan's growth towards excellence has taken place not just on the GAA fields of Ireland over the past few years. While Seamus McEneaney's county side fell at the first hurdle in the Ulster Senior Championship, they put together an impressive run through the qualifier system - accounting for provincial rivals Donegal and Derry - before running aground following a titanic battle with All-Ireland champions Kerry for the second year running. Replicating such progress in the sphere of transport has been Castleblayney firm Noel Flanagan Limited. The proud winner of the Owner/Driver (4+ trucks) Haulier of the Year award for 2009 at the Fleet Transport annual gala ceremony in October, Noel Flanagan Limited is clearly a company which prioritises excellence in everything it does, a pledge on which it invariably delivers. The great and the good of the Irish haulage industry were present at the awards ceremony at the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel in Enfield, County Meath, with renowned RTE personality Marty Whelan serving as Master of Ceremonies and veteran broadcaster and Road Safety Authority chief Gay Byrne the guest of honour on the night. Deirdre Flanagan, Noel's daughter, is the director and transport manager of the company, and she admits that it was a fillip to the 25-year-old company to lift a national award for the first time. She says: "It was our second year in the competition but our first time to win it and it was great for the company. There were 420 people in attendance and there were awards across 15 different categories, from mechanics to environmental services. It was great to be a part of it and we were delighted to earn such recognition." Set up in 1983 by Noel Flanagan, who remains the managing director, the company founded its early success on the countrywide transport of furniture before diversifying into refrigerated freight in recent years. The company having grown considerably from modest beginnings, the decision was taken to diversify into the food industry, where a niche in the market was spotted. On the back of significant investment in training and equipment, Noel Flanagan Limited has become one of the leading players in the haulage sector of the food industry, in which it is regarded as a key distributor of chilled and frozen goods across the 32 counties of Ireland as well as the United Kingdom. Refrigerated services are now the company's core business, with a wide range of facilities and expertise offering the highest level of service to their clients, several of whom are blue-chip companies renowned throughout the world. A fully licensed international haulage company with membership of the Irish Road Haulage Association, Noel Flanagan Limited has acquired all its vehicles from McDonnell Commercials, a main Volvo dealer in Monaghan. Following a decision to expand the fleet in 2007, the company currently has nine trucks in operation, split between FH12s and FH520s. For specialised haulage of refrigerated freight, the vehicles are equipped with floor loaders for standard temperature control, while the availability of dual temperature trailers allow products to be carried at separate temperatures, another aspect which significantly adds to the flexibility on offer. And while the area of refrigerated freight has undoubtedly developed into its primary concern, it retains huge expertise in furniture haulage with 25 years of experience in that particular field. The company prides itself on the fact that it is a dedicated, family-run business providing the highest level of service to ensure absolute customer satisfaction. Its broad fleet offers the flexibility required to take on all manner of projects ranging from the smallest jobs to vast multi-national tasks, while bulk loads, order delivery services and stock replenishment are also available. Deirdre - who has been with the company since 1996 - reckons the firm's ability to offer different things to different clients is of primary importance, particularly given the current economic climate. Looking back on quarter of a century of steady progress, she believes that the decision to broaden its range of services has been a central factor in increasing the company's client base. "Diversity is the key," she says. "We started out by hauling furniture to different parts of Ireland and Rossmore Furniture approached us with the aim of exporting to the United Kingdom. We've also carried loads to Holland for 20 years or so. "In recent years, we've concentrated a lot more on refrigerated freight for the food industry and logistics. That end of it has taken off immensely, and we are now linked with two of the major multiples in Ireland. It's very important to be able to offer a range of services and we're delighted with the way things have gone." Tweet

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