Affordable housing is a priority for CIF's Donal

DONAL Cahalane of Dunmanway-based Cahalane Bros is the new chairman of the Construction Industry Federation Cork Branch, and intends looking at ways of delivering affordable housing during his year in office.

Donal Cahalane is a qualified chartered civil and environmental engineer and studied in University College Cork. Upon graduating Donal started his career with Laing O’Rourke as a site engineer on the €360m Cannon Place Development in the City of London, rising through a range of roles as the four-year project progressed.

In 2012, he returned to Ireland to the family business, Cahalane Brothers Ltd, where he applied his experience to manage live projects and develop health and safety and quality systems for the company. 

However, with the market in the negative position it was in 2013 he packed his bags again to take on the challenge of delivering fast-track, large scale data centres for a world leading client in Finland. While abroad, Donal progressed to the position of lead campus engineer for the main contractor overseeing half a billion euro worth of work.

In 2015, with a small upturn in the market in Ireland, Donal returned to take an active role in the running of the family business alongside his father and managing
director, Conor. The company focuses on work in Cork city and West Cork. 

Recent projects of note include Clonakilty Black Pudding’s new factory and Bryce House restoration on Garinish Island near Glengarriff.

Donal said: ‘As a family business Cahalane Brothers Ltd have a long history of contributing to the built environment in the region. 

‘During the next 12 months I will endeavour to gain positive traction with those engaged with the industry on key items including infrastructure for Cork, developing ways of providing affordable housing and attracting people to the industry as it builds momentum,’ he added.