25 years of architectural technology services in Kerry

SINCE qualifying as an Architectural Technician in 1992 Richard McElligott has been involved as design consultant in practically every type of building project. From the smallest domestic extension to multi-million euro housing developments and projects in the hospitality, heritage, civic, recreation, education, health and industrial sectors.

Based in Tralee the practice has designed buildings in every corner of the county, as well as in Cork, Limerick, Kildare, Dublin and Fermanagh. While the bread and butter project is still the one-off private house. The practice has been involved in a number of church renovations, new credit union offices, shops of different varieties, as well as developments by different sporting clubs and other voluntary organisations. Richard McElligott & Associates - which trades as Macro Design Consultants since 2015 - is currently moving to new offices following the up-turn in the economy and is confident that the construction industry is at last showing signs of recovery after almost a decade of decline.

Following a significant renovation to St. Michaels Church in Lixnaw, which also included an extension to the sacristy, the practice was awarded the refurbishment of the local Presbytery. This in turn led to work at St. Mary’s Church in Beaufort and St. Brendan’s Church at Curraheen, before an interior remodelling of the entrance porch and choir balcony at St. John the Baptists Church in Causeway was undertaken. The recent refurbishment of St. Mary’s Church in Listowel was also designed by Richard McElligott & Associates and completed by Cisco Woodframe Homes.

The Samaritans of Kerry moved back into their offices at 43/44 Moyderwell last December following a major refurbishment project completed by contractor Tom Ross of Tralee. Other recently completed work includes new banking offices for J.R.I. America at Kerry Technology Park, Tralee, and Memorial Sculptures at Hermitage Park in Lixnaw and at Teach Siamsa in Finuge. The Pharmacy in Lixnaw also has a new home as this was developed over the past year and opened just in time for Christmas.

Currently on the drawing board are private houses at Barraduff and Valentia Island while a significant extension to a dwelling house at Oakpark in Tralee, completed by J.F. Flynn Builders of Tralee, and a new house in Balscadden in north Co Dublin have recently been finished. The practice is also very satisfied with the face-lift given to a dwelling house in Fenit under contractors Danny and Thomas McElligott. This house takes a contemporary form and uses modern materials as required by the client.

On the horizon is a housing development in Lisloose in Tralee and an exciting mix of apartments and houses on a site in Dingle town. The latter development will hopefully run in tandem with the practice’s largest project currently being considered, i.e. a 60 bedroom boutique guesthouse and Irish Cultural Centre at The Bridge House on Dingle’s John Street. The same client is also developing Glenduff Manor House in Kielduff, near Tralee and Macro Design Consultants have been brought on-board to make sure these proposals become a reality. Currently going through the planning process are two interesting projects; a Golf Academy in Ballinorig West, and renovations to the former Tralee Laundry Building on Pembroke Street in Tralee for St. Margaret’s Boxing Club.