news

Peak Performance:

How Our Team Conquered Carrauntoohil (and Gravity) for John

There are team-building exercises, and then there’s voluntarily hurling yourself up Ireland’s highest mountain on a Friday afternoon. Last week, a brave (or slightly unhinged) band of your colleagues did exactly that all in the name of raising funds for our teammate and friend, John Caulfield.

Spoiler alert: we made it. Barely. And the craic was mighty.

The Mission

John is a valued member of our team who’s currently undergoing cancer treatment. We wanted to do something to show our support so naturally, we decided to punish our legs, lungs, and life choices by climbing Carrauntoohil.

The weather was absolutely fabulous, not a typical Irish “four seasons in one hour” situation. We’re talking blue skies, sunshine, and views that made you forget your calves were screaming for mercy.

A handful of fanatics, we won’t name names, but they know who they are, sprinted up the mountain. SPRINTED. Up Carrauntoohil. Like mountain goats who’d had three espressos.

The rest of us adopted a more strategic approach:
walk a while, rest, admire the view, question our life choices, eat a sandwich, rest again, take a group photo, rest some more.

There were many “rest periods.”

Special Mention

Can we talk about Thomas and Liam for a second?

These two were amazing. Patient, encouraging, and somehow still smiling after the fifteenth time someone asked “Are we nearly there yet?”

They guided us up, cheered us on, and crucially prevented anyone from accidentally rolling back down in a dramatic fashion.

If you ever need someone to keep a group of weary, chatty amateurs alive on a mountainside, these are your men.

Heroes, one and all.

Honestly, the banter was worth the aching limbs. Between the terrible jokes, the competitive “who can look least like a sweaty mess” photo contest, and the shared stares of disbelief whenever another steep section appeared, we laughed our way up.

Tough walk? Absolutely. Worth it? Every step.

Being together, knowing we were doing this for John, turned a slog into something genuinely special.

Looking Ahead

We’re already looking ahead and we can’t wait to have John join us on the climb next year.

That’s the goal. That’s the win.

So John, if you’re reading this: start your light stretching now. We’ve saved you a spot at the front.
(No pressure. We’ll also carry snacks for you.)

Thank You

None of this would have been possible without the generous sponsorship from Kelliher Electrical, who came on board without hesitation.

Kelliher Electrical, you’re absolute diamonds.
Thank you for supporting our team and helping us make a real difference for John.

Support John

If you’d still like to donate to support John, please do: https://gofund.me/bba0b61f0

Our Friend and Colleague Needs Us.

We are reaching out on behalf of our friend and colleague, John Caulfield, from Mayfield, Cork, who is currently in the fight of his life against cancer.

Many of you know John as a dedicated family man, a familiar face in the Cork sporting community, and a hardworking member of the team here at Kiernan Engineering. For those who don’t, John is the kind of person who gives his all to everything he does whether it’s in the Electrical Field, on the pitch, or providing for his three beloved children.

John has already faced this enemy before. With incredible bravery and strength, he fought cancer and won some years ago. However, we are devastated to share that the cancer has returned. This news has been a heavy blow to John and his family, but true to his character, John is preparing to face this battle with the same courage and determination he showed the first time. He has gone through a serious operation recently and now faces a considerable amount of Chemotherapy.

For over a year now, John has been unable to work full-time due to his illness and treatment. As anyone who has walked this path knows, the physical toll is matched by the financial strain. Between hospital visits, treatments, and the everyday cost of living, the bills are piling up. John’s sole focus needs to be on his health and his family not on how to make ends meet.

This is where we, as his work colleagues, friends and community, step up.

We want to help make life a little easier for John and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Your donations will go directly to supporting John, and his family. The funds will help cover essential living costs, travel to and from the hospital, medical expenses and any other burdens that allow the family to focus on what truly matters: John’s recovery.

A Pillar of the Community

If you have been involved in sporting life in Cork for the past number of years, chances are you have met John. He has always been there for others, and now it’s our turn to be there for him.

We all miss seeing him every day here at Kiernan Engineering. The office isn’t the same without him. We want to show John that while he is away fighting, his work family and his community are fighting right alongside him.

No donation is too small every euro makes a difference. If you are unable to donate, we completely understand. If you can, please consider sharing this page to spread the word.

Let’s rally for John, the same way he has always rallied for his team and help give him something positive to look forward to once he’s through the hardest part.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and love during this incredibly difficult time.

With gratitude,

John’s Friends and Colleagues at Kiernan Engineering

https://gofund.me/bba0b61f0

Newsletter – April 2026

Welcome to our very first quarterly newsletter 2026! As we kick off this year, we’re excited to share updates, celebrate achievements, and keep everyone connected on the exciting journey ahead.

The first quarter of 2026 has been one of growth, collaboration, and momentum. From major milestones to team highlights, we have plenty to reflect on—and even more to look forward to. Whether it’s recognising outstanding contributions, sharing key business updates, or offering a glimpse into upcoming projects, this newsletter is your go-to resource for staying informed and inspired.

Thank you for being part of our success story. Let’s dive in and celebrate the wins, learnings, and opportunities that define our collective progress.

Here’s to a strong start and an even brighter future ahead!

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 – Celebrating the Winners

Let’s be honest there are highlights, and then there are highlights. Our annual Apprentice of the Year Awards definitely falls into the second category. It’s the one afternoon where apprentices, mentors, managers, and colleagues all agree: dodging real work to celebrate our brightest rising stars is a very good idea.

It’s a time to reflect on progress made, challenges overcome, and the frankly terrifying amount of potential our apprentices have.

This year, we took over Flannery’s Bar & Restaurant on 5th December 2025. And what an afternoon. Food was eaten, beverages were enjoyed, and then the ceremony began.

Each category winner walked away with a bespoke trophy and a gift voucher to help further their career, whether that’s a professional development course, extra training, or just buying the decent set of tools they’ve been eyeing up for months. We don’t judge. We just fund.

Building the Future

At Kiernan Engineering, we don’t just say apprentices are “the future.” We actually mean it. They’re the backbone of our success which makes them sound a bit skeletal, but you get the idea. Their growth is our growth, and their achievements are basically our achievements too.

The Apprentice of the Year Awards is our way of saying: “Well done. That was impressive”. More importantly, it’s a reminder that the journey is just beginning so they’d better keep their hard hats on.

This isn’t just about recognising talen. It’s an investment in our apprentices and in our company. By fostering a supportive environment, offering real opportunities, and celebrating outstanding achievements, we make sure our apprentices are ready for whatever the future throws at them.

We’re incredibly proud of every single apprentice we have. And we look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence for years to come.

So, without further ado… let’s have a look at our winners.

30 Years With Kiernan Electrical

Michelle Kingston: 30 Years of Balancing the Books and Chasing the Rest of Us

In February we celebrated an incredible 30 years of Michelle Kingston keeping the company financially healthy, organised, and, most importantly, keeping the rest of us in check.

As Financial Controller, Michelle has seen it all, mysterious receipts, and the legendary “I’ll send the timesheet later” promise from site teams. Her ability to track down missing timesheets with her gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) reminders have kept many of us on the straight and narrow.

Michelle’s attention to detail is second to none. Nothing escapes her, not a missing receipt, not an unexplained expense, and certainly not an overdue timesheet. It’s fair to say she has kept everyone on their toes for 30 years, whether they liked it or not.

To mark this remarkable milestone, our Managing Director, Finbarr O’Regan, presented Michelle with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her dedication, loyalty, and the patience she has shown us all especially at timesheet deadline time.

Michelle, thank you for three decades of commitment, professionalism, and for making sure the numbers and the rest of us always add up.

Congratulations Michelle………looking forward to the next 30 years

We had our office Christmas party in the Clayton Hotel in Cork on Friday night 28th November. A great night was had by all. The venue was fantastic as was the food but more importantly the company was amazing. Merry Christmas everyone!

March Safety Spotlight: Irving Site JSA Initiative Raises the Bar

At Kiernan Electrical, we don’t just talk about safety we live it, cable by cable, task by task. That’s why last month, our team on the Irving site kicked off an exciting initiative designed to sharpen our hazard-spotting skills and reward proactive thinking. Thanks To our safety Advisor Thomas and the support from our site manager Glen the initiative was a great success.

Throughout March, we challenged the crew to step up their Job Safety Analysis (JSA’s). The goal was simple but powerful: identify potential hazards, suggest practical improvements, and look out for one another. To add a little friendly competition, we offered prizes for the four best JSAs submitted during the month.

The response was nothing short of outstanding.

And the Winners Are…

After careful review, we are proud to announce and congratulate the four winners of our March JSA Initiative:

Each of these winners submitted JSAs that demonstrated exceptional attention to detail, a genuine care for their colleagues, and the kind of forward-thinking mindset that prevents incidents before they ever happen.

A Big Thank You to the Whole Team
While we are celebrating four winners, the real victory belongs to everyone on the Irving site. To every electrician, apprentice, supervisor, and support team member who took a few minutes to write up a JSA: thank you.

Safety isn’t a one-person job. It’s a daily commitment shared across the entire crew. By embracing this initiative, you proved that Kiernan’s strength lies in its people and in the culture of care you build together every single shift.

Initiatives like this aren’t just about prizes or paperwork. They are about embedding safety into our daily rhythm. They remind us that the best safety tool isn’t a harness or a barrier it’s an alert, empowered team.

Congratulations again to our four winners, and a heartfelt thank you to the entire Irving team for making March a standout month for safety.