Seán Stewart, who died on August 27, 2024, will be remembered in the world of construction for his passion and commitment.
A leading light both in his professional and personal life, he gave freely of his time for the betterment of the industry by passing on his knowledge and experience to others.
Seán, a fluent Irish speaker and devoted family man, graduated as a Civil Engineer from NUI Galway in 1963 before moving into the family business, following in the footsteps of his father Jack Stewart, and grandfather James Stewart.
Seán became a director of James Stewart Limited in May 1966 and a director of Stewart Construction in 1984. He remained a director until 2023, when he retired as the chairman of Stewart Construction.
Seán steadily grew Stewart Construction during his tenure, with his leadership guiding the Galway company to become one of Ireland’s leading contracting firms.
He achieved this by continuing the firm’s commitment to meeting client expectations through the delivery of quality projects, within budget and within programme.
He successfully navigated the company through some harsh trading conditions for the industry, particularly in the 1980s, along with surviving recessions.
He was always a pioneer of modern technology and new work systems. He was never afraid to advance for the betterment of his clients and projects.
He was unrelenting when it came to quality and never compromised on this. Seán served on various boards and committees at both local and national level throughout his career.
He was a former chairman of the Construction Industry Federation’s Galway Branch, as well as a former chairman of the Construction Workers Pension Scheme.
A building legacy, Stewart Construction began trading in Lower Salthill, Galway in 1902 where it developed into the construction of houses, churches, schools and industrial buildings.
The business was incorporated in 1938 as James Stewart Ltd. Today it is one of the top Irish contracting firms with a head office still based at its original location, as well as a regional office in Dublin.
Today the firm is led by its chairman, Paul Stewart, who is a great grandson of the founder James Stewart and son of Seán. Seán will be sadly missed by his family and friends, all his colleagues at Stewart
Construction and those who knew him within the wider construction sector.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. May he rest in peace.
