Local Business Profile: Donnelly CPC

This week the Ulster Herald caught up with Paddy Donnelly of Donnelly Custom Polished Concrete, Beragh. The company provides bespoke concrete floors, worktops, furniture and fireplaces right across Ireland. They are a one stop shop for all your architectural concrete needs indoors and out.

Name: Paddy Donnelly
Business: Donnelly Custom Polished Concrete
Business Location: Beragh

How long have you been in business? Four years.

How many staff do you employ? Two.

What are your strengths? I’d say that I’m patient but some might like to think different lol! Dedicated and friendly.

What are your weaknesses? Well my wife would say housework lol, I find it hard to switch off from work, I’m always busy doing something outside or planning my next project.

Has Covid-19 affected your business? Thankfully it hasn’t, we are fortunate in this line of work to usually have the workplace to ourselves so once we arrive on site the usual Covid-19 precautions are adhered to, business is good otherwise.

What makes your business unique? We pride ourselves in our work and attention to detail, working closely with clients to achieve perfection in our finished products from bespoke flooring to worktops and outdoor entertaining areas. Our reputation is something we hold in high regard, as a lot of our work comes from previous jobs and word-of-mouth.

What does your business mean to you? It gives me a great sense of achievement as it was started from very little but with hard work, determination and support from family and friends it has grown to where I am at today. I have also met some great people through my line of work and have employees that are willing to go the extra mile for me and that’s what makes it work so well.

Aside from family and friends, who has been the greatest influence on your life? That’s a tough one now… does Arthur Guinness count? Probably my primary school teachers. They gave me great advice and always brought out the best in me.

What are your plans for the future? Keep doing what we do best and hopefully expand and bring in a few new faces in the future.

Any advice for anyone starting out in your industry? Don’t be afraid of criticism and believe in yourself, you don’t always have to achieve the top grades in life to be successful. If you are hardworking, have good manners and a good work ethic you’ll go far.

If you weren’t in this field of business, what would you be doing? I suppose either joinery or farming.

What do you do to relax? Spending time with my family and doing projects with the kids.

What would you do if you won the lottery? Share it among friends and family and have a mighty session once this pandemic is over. Invest money back into the business.

We might be limited in our travel at the moment but where is your favourite holiday destination? Australia is definitely top of the list, I met my wife out there and we would love to get back there again someday and take our kids.

What do you miss most about Tyrone when you are away? The people from my local community.

And finally take the chance to give a shout out to another local business who you think is doing great things (expand on why you’ve chosen them): Kevin Tracey and Johnny Harvey Concrete works. They travel the country far and wide laying the floors for ourselves for polished concrete, enduring early starts and late nights. These men put in a lot of unforeseen hours but their hard work and attention to detail cannot be faulted. Keep it up men.

Ulster Herald Local Business Profiles in association with Omagh Chamber of Commerce