Experience helps p Elliott survive the deep end
December 08, 2006
Established over six decades, P Elliott & Company were the main contractors of the reconstructed Monaghan swimming pool. Although it was a major project, the years involved in the business has helped the company deliver an excellent leisure centre with the best modern facilities writes Cian O Raghallaigh.
P Elliott & Company have been established since 1942 and were the main contractors for the construction of the Monaghan Swimming Pool project. According to the Monaghan.ie website, Monaghan County Council submitted an application to the Department of Arts, Sports & Tourism in November 2004 for approval to appoint contractors (which was P Elliott & Company ) to begin construction of a new Swimming Pool & Leisure Centre.
In January 2005, Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism John O'Donoghue T.D. gave his formal approval to the tender documentation submitted by Monaghan County Council for a replacement swimming pool in Monaghan Town. It was announced that the new facility, when completed, would include a 25x12.5 metre swimming pool (6 lane), kiddies pool, flume, sauna, steam room, plunge pool, fitness /gymnasium, aerobics and fitness room.
A local swimming pool can be an important focal point for an area. Monaghan's children benefited from having a local swimming pool in the area for many years and when it closed down, it meant an important facility in the town had been taken away. It was one less facility for a growing area.
The construction work was meticulous from the outset. The CEO is David Mackey while Noel Elliott Junior is the MD of the Construction section. Mark Elliott is the MD of the Property Section. At the moment the firm employs around 450 people.
Daragh Elliott, Regional Manager of P Elliott & Company has responsibility for the north and midlands area within his company. He explained how the project got off the ground in the first place.
"We competitively tendered the project and were successful based on our tender submission. We were selected as preferred contractor based on our price and ability to carry out the contract in accordance with the tender documentation," says Daragh.
Pat Halley and Associates were the project architects. Eugene Kelly from Malone O Regan was the Client Project Manager and structural engineer. Eugene Carragher, Clerk of Works from Monaghan County Council was also involved in helping to get things started.
Healy Kelly Turner Townsend were the cost consultants. Martin Buckley and Associates were the designer mechanics and electrical installators while we were the main contractors.
To begin with, there was a need to demolish the old pool so that work on the new pool could begin. A health and safety programme was co-ordinated along with a construction programme to ensure that everything was done on time.
According to Daragh, the pool will bring back a great facility to the local people. Monaghan Town can now take great pride out of all the facilities which they have.
"It'll be a great facility and caters for all adults and has a great viewing area for the parents. There are great changing facilities there. There would be fifteen to twenty people working there at the moment. It is situated right on the outskirts of the town so it's ideal," he says.
He explained that the company has previously worked on several other projects. This has helped them in their attention to detail when it came to this project.
"Previously we have completed such projects as Swords Swimming Pool and Total Fitness Blanchardstown to name but a few. The experience in working on those buildings helped us construct this building to a very high standard.
"The new facility has a slide, jacuzzy, sauna, aerobics room and a gym. The older pool was once called Monaghan Swimming Pool but with all these facilities, it was decided to rename this facility Monaghan Leisure Centre," he says.
Daragh highlighted the satisfaction which his company has got from working with the Monaghan Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre project. He also pointed out that the company is also currently involved with another project in the county.
"We are delighted to have been involved in the reconstruction of the pool. The project has run very smoothly. We've also commenced work on the Clones Library in the town so will be getting very busy with that over the next while," he says.
P Elliott is a well-established company and Daragh stated that an efficient management system and experienced personnel has greatly helped development.
"At the moment we'd have around 30 projects on the go across the country. I'd manage all the different teams which we have. The management system is very elaborate and very experienced. Austin McEntee, for example, has worked for the company for around 35 years," he says.
Daragh is part of a well-known GAA family with his uncle Aidan a former Cavan goalkeeper.
P Elliott & Company has played an important role in the development of Monaghan Town this year. With the swimming pool now up and running, they can look back with satisfaction on another project well done. Work on the Clones library is ongoing and with such a thorough approach and experienced personnel, there is no reason why it cannot also be successful.
Most Read Stories