Planting seeds
December 10, 2004
Monaghan Harps GFC are sowing seeds for the future. The once mighty town club has been struggling of late but the signs are encouraging that they are about to turn the corner, thanks in no small way to the support of the friendly faces at Monaghan Plant Hire, official club sponsor.
Monaghan Harps have only won three county senior football championships, the most recent winning its way to the town in 1923. They came close to bridging the gap in the 'eighties and remained a strong senior side through into the following decade, but the Harps have hit upon hard times since.
They slipped from senior to junior ranks but bounced back magnificently in 2003 by winning the Monaghan and Ulster junior football championships. There was disappointment anew in '04 as the Harps again surrendered their intermediate status, but there is still great hope for the future as a plethora of young talent is breaking through in the club at present, as the minor league success of the year gone by proves.
Indeed, the Harps enjoyed a superb year at juvenile level in 2004, capturing Division One league honours at U14, U16 and U18 levels as well as an U16 Division One championship.
Yes, the future of this great club is most certainly in good hands, much to the obvious delight of everybody at Monaghan Plant Hire, the local business that kindly acts as official club sponsor.
Sean McCaffrey of Monaghan Plant Hire notes: "There's a great atmosphere in the club these days and everyone's in a buoyant mood. The development of their new clubhouse and grounds has gone very well and I'm sure the club will continue to provide a great service to the town for many years to come. We're delighted to be able to give them a helping hand."
When did Monaghan Plant hire become sponsor of 'the Harps'? "The first year the company came on board was when Seamus McEnaney came in as manager. Padraig Watters from Culloville is MD of both Monaghan Plant Hire and Castleblayney Plant Hire. Padraig is a big GAA fan and he has never failed to show his support to GAA teams. When the opportunity arose to do a bit of sponsorship for Monaghan Harps, I don't think Padraig was ever gong to pass it over."
To date, the sponsorship has gone extremely well. When the town side claimed the 2003 county JFC and followed up by clinching the Ulster junior club championship crown, the sponsors were thrilled. Sean reveals: "We got good publicity from the Harps last year and it's clear that they have a talented young team coming through, so we decided to stay in with them. The Harps are on their way back up again and it's at times like this that you need that nit of sponsorship and support to help you through. They're building a new stand at Rooskey as well, so the club is making progress both on the pitch and on the development front.
"Two-thousand-and-four was a particularly good year at juvenile level, with an U16 double and great successes at minor and U14 levels as well. They're definitely an up and coming team and could be a force at senior level again soon. The Harps have some of the best young players in the county. The club had more than it's fair share of county minors last year as well as a few lads on the St Macartan's team that got to the McRory Cup final on St Patrick's Day, so things are looking up."
Meanwhile, the company that provides much-needed financial back-up is going into its 26th year in existence. Sean says: "The company started out as Castleblayney Plant Hire on Muckno Street in Castleblayney and Monaghan Plant Hire was a follow-on from that. They have progressed into two of the biggest independently owned plant hire businesses in the country."
Monaghan Plant Hire relocated to a new premises three years ago, to occupy a 25,000 sq. ft. workshop/showroom facility in an industrial development on the Dublin Road. Monaghan Plant Hire provides a comprehensive service, covering everything from a small drill or sander up to a JCB teleporter or a twelve-tonne roller. "We stock anything that somebody working in construction could possibly want to hire," Sean notes.
In addition, Monaghan Plant Hire is also the biggest supplier of lawnmowers in the north east. Both branches also stock and repair bicycles - a particularly busy line at this time of year.
The quality of service provided is such that Monaghan Plant Hire's reputation is known far and wide, attracting an abundance of custom from literally all over the country, as Sean notes: "We cover up as far as Dublin on a regular basis, and even went down as far as Waterford with some of our specialist hoists this year. If a customer down in cork is looking for something and he contacts us, then we will sort him out. That's what we're here for.
"Of course, our biggest market is local in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh etc., but we don't limit ourselves to that in any manner of speaking."
It's not a bad business to be in at present, as the construction sector in Ireland remains positively vibrant. "There's a boom back in building," Sean agrees. "There was a lull there for a while which led to a slight downturn in business, but there are a lot of developments going on at the moment, particularly in housing. There are also a lot of bypasses being constructed locally - Carrickmacross, Monaghan, Castleblayney - which is also very good for business."
The company is also a substantial employer. In total, between sales, administration and workshop employees, 16 people are employed in Monaghan and an additional 30 in Castleblayney.
Sean concludes: "Things are going well, and we'll keep it going. It's a bit like the football really - you have to take the good with the bad and you have to keep plugging away.
"The signs are encouraging for Monaghan Harps. They could have a big future and hopefully Monaghan Plant Hire will be part of that…"
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