ICF members Kilsaran, Roadstone, Banagher Precast, Shay Murtagh Precast and Wright Quarry Products were all winners at the recent Irish Concrete Society Awards for excellence in concrete design and construction.
Building Category Winner and Overall Winner: Church of Oak Distillery
Jury Quote:
‘The Church of Oak Distillery stands as a landmark restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Ballykelly Mills, positioned along the Grand Canal in Monasterevin, Co Kildare. This transformation exemplifies a sensitive balance between contemporary sustainable construction and the preservation of the site’s rich industrial heritage. The design approach carefully integrates modern interventions within the existing fabric, with concrete playing a pivotal role in both structural performance and architectural expression. The project showcases a refined palette of concrete finishes demonstration exceptional craftsmanship while reinforcing the authenticity of the historic structure. The jury particularly noted the seamless integration of concrete in preserving original building elements, ensuring continuity between past and present.
Architectural fairfaced concrete, combined with a commitment to lower-carbon material, highlights, the material’s versatility – simultaneously enhancing the aesthetic language of the intervention while upholding sustainable principles. The result is a compelling dialogue between old and new, where materiality, texture, and form celebrate both the mill’s legacy and its contemporary rebirth.’
Project Client: Jewelfield
Architect: ODOS
Project Engineer: JJ Campell & Associates
Project Contractor: Ormonde Construction
Major Supplier: Kilsaran
Infrastructure Category Winner: Ulster Canal Restoration Project – Phase 2 Clonfad Syphon, Aqueduct and Bridge.
Jury Quote:
“What sets this project apart from the others is the varied concrete forms that are used in the restoration of the canal and how well it sits back into the local environment. The syphon structure is itself is unique set against the backdrop of tight site on difficult terrain. Another feature was the use of offsite construction where and arched mould for the construction of the bridge beams on the Clonfad bridge was used.
An excellent example on the adaptability of concrete and its use in blending inti the surrounding structures. It demonstrates the collaboration between designers and contractors in meeting a project goal.”
Project Client: Waterways Ireland
Project Engineer and Designer: DBFL Consulting Engineers
Project Engineer: Doran Consulting
Project Contractor: Jons Civil Engineering
Major Suppliers: Banagher Precast Concrete/Shay Murtagh Precast/Wright Quarry Products
Element Category Winner: Roscommon Covered Space
Jury Quote:
‘The project involves the design of a Covered Space and Historic Well in the Market Square, Roscommon Town. The project is leading example of a real, open sustainable realm where it can be used and enjoyed by the community.
The use of material used and craftmanship were exemplar. The jury were impressed with the level of finish achieved on the polished concrete incorporating the clean lines on the column supports and the details of the roof into the concrete.’
Project Client: Roscommon County Council
Project Architect: GKMP Architects
Project Engineer: Brunner Consulting Engineerin
Project Contractor: Pat Loftus Construction Group
Major Supplier: Urbancrete
Winner of the 12th International Award: Banagher Precast Concrete for Everton Stadium
Sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, this award recognises Irish companies who export product or services off the island of Ireland. The award reflects the continued emphasis on export for Irish construction.
Jury Quote:
‘The judges were impressed with the extremely high quality of all the entries for this year’s Irish Concrete Society International Awards and deciding on a winner was a difficult challenge for the judging panel.However, there can only be one winner and in the end the winner was clear. For overall excellence in thinking creativity and delivering a solution that has positive implications across the sector the jury chose to award the 12th Irish Concrete Society International Award to Banagher Precast Concrete for Everton Stadium.
The innovation design of the double terracing units overcame multiple technical challenges to have wide ranging positive effects on program, budget and most importantly a significantly positive effect on the sustainable design approach of the project.’
Project: Everton Football Club, Liverpool, UK
Irish Export Company: Banagher Precast Concrete
Winner of the Sculptured Award: ‘Archiving Hope’ by Fiona Hayes
The biennial Award Scheme enable the Society to acknowledgement the work of artists who use concrete as a medium of expression in sculpture.
July Quote:
‘This project has a compelling holistic quality to its narrative. The story of a disused quarry in West Cork, once the source for concrete for the Uillinn Arts Centre in Skibbereen in which the installation is shown, is now re-habited by wind-borne pioneer or ruderal plants which attract small wildlife to create an oasis of sorts within a larger industrial landscape.
The exploration of concrete was as a found material the story comes full circle to describe a life cycle of extraction, building and rewilding.’
Building Category Highly Commended: Tallaght Stadium North Stand & Refurbishment Work
Jury Quote:
‘The fourth stand at Tallaght Stadium exemplifies contemporary stadium architecture within an urban context, seamlessly integrating with its surrounding while fostering community engagement. The design enhances the match-day experience for visiting supporters, creating a lasting impression through its thoughtful spatial composition and materiality.
A key architectural feature is the extensive use of precast concrete elements, which establish a dynamic tectonic relationship, contributing to a striking northern elevation. The raw concrete finish not only reinforces the stadium’s structural clarity but also aligns with sustainable design principles by minimizing its overall carbon footprint.
At the urban interface, the stand activates the ground plane and integrated retail spaces along the northern edge, fostering public interaction beyond match days. The addition transforms the space into a vibrant social hub, reinforcing the stadium’s role both as a sporting venue and a catalyst for community engagement.’
Project Client: South Dublin County Council
Project Architect: Box Architecture/Cooney Architects
Project Engineer: DBFL Consulting Engineers
Project Contractor: ABM Contractors
Major Suppliers: Macrete/Roadstone
Building Category Highly Commended for Innovation: Grange Close 3DCP Housing Scheme
Jury Quote:
‘This project must be commended for the use of 3-D Construction Printing delivering sustainable housing using low carbon 3D printable concrete. The project is a showcase that will encourage plenty of debate in delivering housing faster in time where we have a severe housing shortage.’
Project Client: Louth County Council
Project Architect: Harcourt Architects
Project Engineer: CBA Consulting Engineers
Project Contractor: HTL Build
Major Supplier: Roadstone
Infrastructure Category Highly Commended: Dublin Port Greenway
Jury Quote:
‘This project deserves mention and is a great public amenity 2km in length that opens access to Dublin Port. The jury were impressed with the craftmanship and the level of finish achieved most specially the boarded concrete finish achieved and its consistency along the length of the greenway. The project was designed and executed well with concrete seating and set down area installed to enjoy the stunning views along the route (Tolka Estuary).’
Project Client: Dublin Port Company
Project Architect: Darmody Architecture
Project Engineer: Roughan & Donovan
Contractor: Wills Bros
Major Suppliers: Kilsaran
Element Category Highly Commended: Tallaght Public Relam
Jury Quote:
‘This is a well-executed open space in a very busy environment and a great example robust use of concreate in achieving a pleasing aesthetic finish using etched aggregate concrete mix in terms of colour, hardness of aggregates and a finish that met the expectation of the Client team.’
Project Client: South Dublin County Council
Architect: DFLA
Engineer: Punch Consulting Engineers
Project Contractor: Clonmel Enterprises
Major Suppliers: Roadstone/Urbancrete
International Award Highly Commended: Harcourt Technologies for the Minimass Footbridge at Constructionarium
Jury Quote:
‘The Minimass Footbridge by Harcourt Technologies demonstrates exciting and groundbreaking innovation in 3D printed concrete beams. The jury was impressed by the company’s commitment to the sustainable future of concrete and the design solutions adopted in this exciting technology.’
Project Client: Minimass Norfolk, UK
Irish Export Company: Harcourt Technologies
International Award Highly Commended: Blackpool Central Multi-Story Car Park.
Jury Quote:
‘The judges were impressed with the innovation shown in the reconfiguration of an existing product that facilitated full offsite fabrication, using DfMA principals, to create a unique de-mountable structure that resulted in outstanding carbon, cost and programme savings while enhancing site safety and eliminating follow-on trades.’
Project Client: Blackpool Council – Regeneration Scheme
Irish Export Company: Banagher Precast Concrete
Sculpture Award Highly Commended: ‘Fragments of Time and Space’ by David Beattie
Jury Quote:
‘The bench and the large parabolic disc, the latter quietly reflecting the ambient street sounds back to the sitter, is carefully sited in front of Portlaoise Library. The concrete mix, aggregate and finish have been carefully executed to a fine finish, which displays the versatility and beaty that is possible to achieve in concrete.’
Sean de Courcy Student Award
This is an annual award given to the best project on a concrete related topic from accredited masters and degree programmes in Civil and Structural engineering faculties of Higher Education Institutes on the island of Ireland. The award is named after the late Professor Sean de Courcy, an inspirational professor for many years at UCD, a former chairperson of the Irish Concrete Society, an author and historian of note.
The student award was jury was made up of the Chair Eoin O’Meara (John Sisk & Son), Aidan Fogarty (Ecocem) and Alan Boyle 9Punch Consulting).
Winner: Niall Hanratty (University College Dublin)
Project Title: The Effect of Different Clays on the Properties of Low-Carbon 3D printed Concrete.
Further Information: Irish Concrete Society, Platin, Drogheda, Co. Louth (041) 987 6466
