Prestigious award for Limerick-based construction company which has big growth plans

THE CO-founders of a Limerick-based construction company have won a prestigious award.

Tom O’Connor and Kieran Cusack of Conack Construction were named the 2022 EY Established Entrepreneur Of The Year and at a gala awards ceremony which took place at the Powerscourt Hotel in County Wicklow.

This year the programme received a record number of entrants and the finalists collectively have revenues in excess of €1 billion.  

Conack was founded during 2008 in the middle of a recession, and despite this the business grew rapidly, with an expected turnover of €150 million this year, up from €73 million in 2020.

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Diversification of projects has been an area of sharp focus for the company and one that’s central to its growth strategy. It is behind a number of multi-million projects in Limerick including the upgrade of the Bus Éireann depot at Roxboro Road in the city and St Paul's NS in Dooradoyle.

The co-Managing Directors ensure their portfolio of work at any given time is spread across a range of construction projects from universities, hospitals, and hotels to apartments and social housing.

The company employs over 200 people, and works with over 2,000 subcontractors across Ireland and aims to achieve a turnover of €250 million by 2025.

Commenting at the awards night, Roger Wallace, Partner Lead for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme said, “It’s been an absolute honour to get to know our 2022 finalists and on behalf of EY I am delighted to extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s winners, each of whom have demonstrated cutting-edge, innovative thinking and new ways of working in their respective industries, ultimately shaping how we live and work on the island of Ireland and globally."

Anne Heraty, chair of the Judging Panel added: “This year, once again, our EOY finalists proved themselves to be incredibly ambitious leaders who are building and sustaining successful and dynamic businesses across the island of Ireland and globally.  Each of our winners have proved themselves as visionaries, with a strong desire to create, innovate, grow, learn and contribute to our economies and communities."