Finbarr O’Neill: A thriving family business for 50 years

Finbarr O’Neill, celebrating 50 years in business, as suppliers of a range of range of Readymix concrete, mortars, blocks, sand, gravels, building stone and more.

Finbarr O’Neill Ltd is proud of its connection to the farming community built up over half a century.

“We have always had a close connection to the farming community from drainage stone to farm roadways right through our 50 years in business,” Finbarr explains. “We have significant experience in the area of roadways as our red sandstone product is very durable when laid out and rolled, and ideal for the movement of animals across it.”

Most of the company’s business is within Munster — particularly in the Cork, Limerick and Waterford areas.

“Teagasc took it in Moorepark in Fermoy, as well its Agri Colleges in Clonakilty and Pallaskenry in Limerick. “We call it ‘the red carpet for livestock’ and we are very happy to promote it with the slogan: Don’t take our word for it, our customers are the best testament to its suitability.”

Not alone does the product enhance the overall health and efficiency of the farm animals — it also gets a firm thumbs up from farmers themselves.

“We will often have farmers tell us the product is not only good for their animals, but removes the prospect of being bounced around in a tractor over rough ground. Hip and knee joints are a common occurrence with people in the farming community, so well-constructed roads ensure a high degree of better health and safety for farmers themselves,” Finbarr explains.

Better farm roadways are also a necessity for the use of quad bikes, with regulations now requiring greater safety in this area.

“Not alone are these roadways better for general farm activity, they also bring greater efficiency to the movement of animals. One farmer told us how his cows will move quickly across the roadway, but then slow up when they encounter any unpaved areas, losing him up to an hour every day. As a result, he is now paving the entire animal roadway and thus saving many hours across the course of a year.”

Hoof damage and costly veterinary bills are another saving benefit resulting from well-constructed roadways.

“With grass becoming an ever more valuable farm resource, keeping animal movement across roadways prevents unnecessary damage to fields and crops,” Finbar adds.

As Europe’s Premium Plum Slate provider, supplying stone since 1975, Finbarr O’Neill Ltd is a family-run company located in Ballincollig, Co Cork. Supplying stone, Readymix, natural stone aggregates, construction materials, quarry materials and precast products, only the finest sandstone plum slate and decorative stone is manufactured and distributed.

A family business founded by Finbarr and Mary O’Neill in 1975, it supplies stone to meet the demands of the growing construction and farming markets in Cork City and county.

The company has expanded significantly since then and is now managed by the next generation John, Francis, Finbarr O’Neill Junior and Lucia.

“We like what we are doing and we are good at it. We stock a lot of products that other quarries would not have. We stock a variety of bespoke products that we are very proud of.

“We started exporting to Holland and Germany around 2014, and that continues to fit very well into the overall business. We pride ourselves on the personalised and dedicated service we offer to our customers and the local community, and that has contributed to us continuing to thrive 50 years after our parents began the whole enterprise. It has suited us very well to have such a broad customer base between our Irish clients and those newer clients spread across the EU.”

The company supplies a comprehensive range of Readymix Concrete, Mortars, Blocks, Sand, Gravels, Building Stone, Quarry Products, Decorative Stone and Precast products. The company head office is in Ballincollig, Co Cork, with quarries located at: Clashanure, Ovens, opposite the Lee Valley Golf Club; Lyrevarrig, Glenville; Meeshal, Dripsey; and Rathcanning, Mogeely.