Pictured above is Kevin McDonnell, PCAI President; Gillian Ross, CIF Executive of Specialist Contracting and Gareth Moore, PCAI Vice President
Aidan Priestley meets Kevin McDonnell, the first president of the newly-launched Piling Contractors Association of Ireland
The launch of the Association of Ireland (PCAI) in October marked an important moment for one of the country’s most technically demanding and often under-recognised construction sectors.
As part of the CIF’s Alliance of Specialist Contractors Association, the PCAI aims to give Ireland’s piling and foundation contractors a unified voice, while driving forward standards, safety and sustainability across the industry.
For Kevin McDonnell of McDonnell Piling, who now serves as the first president of the PCAI, the idea of an Irish association dedicated to piling has been a long time coming.
“Over the past 30 years the piling industry in Ireland has grown enormously,” he explains. “With that growth came an increase in the number of companies operating here. For a long time, most Irish piling contractors looked to the UK’s Federation of Piling Specialists as the benchmark for standards and guidance.
“That worked to a point, but it became clear that Ireland needed its own organisation that reflected our unique conditions, regulations and market challenges.”
The concept of forming a national body was first discussed several years ago, but it was only in 2024 that momentum gathered.
“In October of that year, a number of piling companies came together to seriously consider the proposal. After engaging with the CIF, it was decided that the new association should sit within the wider family of specialist contracting bodies. From there, the Piling Contractors Association of Ireland was formally launched on October 8,2025.”
Members of the newly-formed PCAI join some of the leadership and executive team from the Construction Industry Federation outside Construction House
The PCAI’s mission is clear: to promote excellence, safety and innovation across every aspect of piling and specialist foundation work. Kevin outlines the association’s priorities as improving technical competence and workmanship, supporting training and education, and serving as a strong collective voice to government departments, local authorities and professional bodies.
“We want to make sure the industry continues to advance,” he says. “That means sharing information, setting standards and raising the bar for safety and quality.”
One of the PCAI’s first initiatives focuses on producing safety guidance specific to piling operations. “We are preparing a series of safety fact sheets for clients and main contractors, addressing topics that are particularly relevant to our work,” he explains.
These will cover working platforms for piling rigs, managing exclusion zones, dealing with pressurised concrete lines, understanding underground services and ensuring that excavator operators are properly trained and familiar with piling operations.
Education is another core focus. The PCAI is working with South East Technological University (SETU) in Carlow to explore how the industry can contribute to the university’s two-year Higher Certificate in Engineering in Geodrilling.
“We hope to see piling companies sponsoring employees through the programme,” he says. “It covers essential topics such as soil and rock classification, drilling technology and safety management specific to drilling and piling. It will give young engineers and technicians the kind of grounding they need to build a career in our industry.”
“Piling contractors have very particular expertise. We understand soils, geology and the complex interactions that determine what type of foundation is appropriate for a given site. Whether it is an urban brownfield site, an offshore project or a remote
greenfield development, the work we do is critical to every major build.”
He points to Ireland’s largest civil engineering project as a clear example.
“Metrolink will rely heavily on the input of piling and geotechnical specialists for piled retaining walls, diaphragm walls and tunnelling works. In recent years we have seen more and more clients and engineers engaging early with piling contractors to define the right approach. That collaboration is only going to increase.”
Kevin’s long-term vision for the association is ambitious but grounded. “I want to see a situation where clients, local authorities and contractors know that when they hire a PCAI member, they are guaranteed consistent safety standards and top-class quality. We will introduce auditing to make sure those standards are met by all members.”
Environmental responsibility is also central to his outlook, both professionally and personally. “I have spent 40 years working in soils and piling, but I am also involved in organic farming and salmon conservation,” he says.
“That makes you very aware of the environmental impact of construction. As an industry we need to design piles that use less steel and concrete and to support the development of greener concrete products.”
Kevin McDonnell of McDonnell Piling now serves as the first president of the PCAI
Kevin’s own company, McDonnell Piling, has already begun that journey.
“All our fleet and plant machinery now run on HVO diesel, which cuts emissions by around 90 per cent. We are investing in alternative pile types that reduce spoil, and we have committed to cutting our CO₂ emissions in line with global COP targets for 2030.”
Looking ahead, he believes the PCAI can play a vital role in shaping the future of Ireland’s built environment.
“We have an incredibly skilled and innovative community of contractors in this country. By working together under one association, we can raise standards, improve sustainability and make sure that piling is recognised for the essential, highly specialised discipline it is. The foundations of any structure are only as strong as the expertise behind them. That is what the PCAI is here to represent.”
The PCAI mission
The PCAI exists to promote excellence, safety, and innovation in piling and specialist foundation work throughout Ireland. It will bring together contractors, engineers, and industry partners to raise standards, share knowledge, and represent the interests of members at every level
Membership
Membership of the Association is open to companies engaged in the construction of specialist piling work. The founding members of the Association comprise:
- F K Lowry
- McDonnell Piling
- Murphy Group
- P J Edwards & Company
- Quinn Piling
The current officers of the association are:
- President: Kevin McDonnell (McDonnell Piling)
- Vice President: Gareth Moore (FK Lowry)
- Secretary: Gillian Ross (CIF)
Association timeline
Over the past three decades, Ireland’s piling industry has experienced significant growth, accompanied by a substantial increase in the number of companies operating nationally.
Historically, many Irish piling contractors deferred to the UK’s Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) as the benchmark for best practice – particularly in areas such as commercial standards, health and safety, training, and piling platform design.
However, as the Irish industry matured, the need for a dedicated representative body for Irish contractors became clear. In October 2024, representatives from several leading piling companies met to explore the creation of an Irish association.
Following extensive discussions and collaboration with the Construction Industry Federation, it was agreed that the new body would operate as a constituent association within the CIF’s Alliance of Specialist Contractors Association (ASCA).
On October 8, the Piling Contractors’ Association of Ireland (PCAI) was formally established and officially launched – marking an important milestone for Ireland’s piling and specialist foundation community.
