The Irish Glass Bottle site is one of Dublin’s most high-profile projects and is widely considered to be central to the evolution of Ireland’s capital city. Located near Dublin Port, Glass Bottle is a 15 hectare former industrial site that is currently being transformed in to a place for thousands of people to live, work, and socialise in the community. Sisk is currently constructing Phase 1 of this iconic project, which includes almost 600 homes, both private and Social & Affordab...
One of the most rewarding aspects of working in the construction industry is the opportunity to work on big-ticket, flagship projects that not only have an impact on those who build them, but that also serve the current and future generations of people that will work, live, play, or pray in those structures. In this episode of Inside Sisk, we take a tour of Ireland’s largest sports stadium, Croke Park, in the company of the man who led its redevelopment into a world-class 82,000 seater ...
One of the most exciting aspects of the modern construction industry is the phenomenal level of innovation that is infusing all parts of the business. This change is not just having an impact on projects, but on people too. Roles are changing and growing, people managers are having to lead in a whole new way, and relationships with clients are quickly evolving. During times of change, the opportunities for personal, professional, and commercial development abound. On this episode of Ins...
In this episode of Inside Sisk, we learn about the company's rapid expansion across Europe and the UK, some of the flagship projects that are being built, and the valuable opportunities and experience that Sisk team members can gain by working directly on the Sisk’s international growth. Our guests are Paul Minihan, Sisk Site Manager, who has been working in Europe for over four years; and John Dennehy, Regional Commercial Director for Sisk UK South, who joined Sisk’s early UK operation...
A feature of several Sisk projects is the significant level of digital technology and new building techniques at play. Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are just some of the innovations driving forward the modernisation of the industry. On this episode of Inside Sisk, we examine how these technologies work, the impact they are having on time, cost and sustainability, and how they are elevating the role of the human in the...
In 2016 a design competition was announced for the redevelopment of Phase 4 of Great Ormond Street Hospital - arguably the most recognisable children’s hospital in the world. Sisk pitched for the project, and won. This episode of Inside Sisk is a fascinating study into how healing environments are created, building a space that can evolve alongside medical technology, and the impact of working on a project with such a unique purpose. We meet two of the people behind this iconic pr...
In a time of great uncertainty, being surrounded by brilliant people becomes more important than ever. In this episode of Inside Sisk, we meet Lindsay Griffin (Senior Proposals Manager) and Alan Kelly (Specialist Plant and Mobilisation Manager). Through their stories and how they describe their roles in Sisk, Lindsay and Alan reveal the critical importance of the relationships we form in work, and how these connections underpin the success of the entire company.
In this, our final episode of the current series of Inside Sisk, we meet the company’s incoming CEO, Paul Brown. His mission is clear – to preserve the legacy of the company’s 160-year history while continuing to drive forward the innovation and excellence that Sisk is known for. He’ll do this with the help of “some of the best people I’ve ever worked with”.
Modern building methods and digital technologies deliver faster, more cost efficient and more sustainable builds for clients. They also create new and interesting opportunities for those involved in the projects. As such, they are the future of the construction industry. On this episode of Inside Sisk we focus on the future – the technology and innovation being employed on modern projects, the territories they are being employed in, and the talent that is driving them forward. Ou...
Since the earliest days of Sisk in the late 1800’s, when the original John Sisk replaced slum dwellings in Cork city with modern, comfortable housing for his workers, a core part of the company’s mission has been to make a positive impact on people and society. On this episode of Inside Sisk, we meet some of those who are driving forward programmes and initiatives designed to positively impact the communities in which Sisk operates, the families the company builds homes for, and the tea...
Central to success in the construction industry is the ability to consistently win work: staying aware of the opportunities on the horizon, putting together strong and competitive bids to try to win those contracts, and then, if successful, delivering on the speed, innovation and excellence promised. After over 160 years in business, this is something that John Sisk and Son knows a lot about. On this episode of Inside Sisk, we meet Katie Clohessy, Senior Bid Manager at Sisk and Fergal L...
The Sisk Training Centre, also known as The Joinery, was founded many decades ago by John G Sisk, born out of his love of timber and stone, and a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship involved in working with these materials. Even after John G retired he would often visit the workshop. In this episode of Inside Sisk, Christine and Hal Sisk talk about John G’s passion for natural materials. We also meet two Sisk team members who have spent a lifetime working with timber and have become...
Problem solving, to varying degrees, lies at the core of every role within John Sisk & Son. Creative solutions need to be applied, not just to the technical and engineering questions that arise on projects, but also to the challenges that Sisk team members can face in their personal lives, which have a natural impact on their work lives. Ross Cullen and Rhys Watkins are master problem-solvers in their own roles. Ross, as Group Chief Engineer, and Rhys, as Site and Support Manager at...
John Sisk started his independent contracting business in 1859, and, in the 162 years that have passed since then, his family has built John Sisk & Son into one of the construction industry’s most successful and iconic companies. During the early days of a business, foundations are laid for how it approaches projects, how it treats its people, and the impact it has on the community and society in which it operates. In this episode we will hear about the early days of Sisk and ...
Project Director Sean Stagg shares the inside story an iconic project that had the eyes of the nation on it - the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road (now Aviva) stadium. Aged just 35yrs old when he got the call, Sean experienced the “pure emotion and excitement’ of being appointed to the project, before the ‘fear’ of what lay ahead took over. But despite the challenges he faced, his firm belief in a successful outcome never waned. In this episode of Inside Sisk: The Legacy Series, Sean shares th...
What does legacy look like when your job is sustainability? For Sarah-Jane Davies, it’s about ensuring that Sisk’s work leaves places, communities and the planet in a better way than before the work was done. In this episode of Inside Sisk: The Legacy Series, Sarah-Jane traces her journey from being “the annoying person on sites talking about waste” to becoming Head of Sustainability UK at Sisk, where she is helping to shape the long term sustainability strategy of the company. She also...
Project Manager Ger Coleman tells the inside story of One Opera Square, the city-centre build that became his legacy project. As a proud Limerick man, Ger always wanted to build at home, and Opera Square gave him that chance. But along with the pride of breathing life back into his home city, came unforeseen obstacles and sleepless nights. On this episode of Inside Sisk: The Legacy Series, Ger shares the full story of his time on Opera square – from the initial joy of re-shaping Limeric...
Caryl Perez came to Sisk as a young graduate and she remembers the nerves of that first day like it was yesterday, “ I was about to go into security and I just broke down.”. Caryl also clearly recalls the warm welcome she received from her new colleagues, and how that turned everything around. And as Caryl has progressed through the industry, to the role of Project Manager that she holds today, the support and encouragement of the people around her has remained central to her success and the ...
On Marcus Carne’s first day in construction as a newly qualified Quantity Surveyor, he was handed a shovel and put to work on a trench so that he could ‘learn the value of a pound’. It was an early lesson in the importance of understanding how connected every person on a project is, and the impact that any decision you will make can have. Today, as Chief Commercial Officer at Sisk, Marcus reflects on other valuable lessons that he has learned throughout his 30-year career, including a v...
Every project leaves a mark, but some leave a legacy. For Regional Engineer Lauren Luck, a city-shaping transport project in Leeds became more than just another milestone — it redefined how she thinks about her work, her career, and the impact she can have on others. In this episode of Inside Sisk: The Legacy Series, Lauren shares how she overcame complex challenges, what she learned along the way, and why the real legacy of construction isn’t just in the structures we build, but in the peopl...