Construction firm in Tyrone closes after almost 70 years

ONE of Tyrone’s best known construction companies has finally closed after nearly 70 years in business.

Dromore-based McAleer and Teague once employed more than 70 people across West Tyrone.

But its remaining 12 employees have been laid off following the end of the British Government’s furlough scheme.

The firm had been based at the former bank building in Dromore town centre.

It’s understood that an auction of remaining assets belonging to the company will take place this month.

Formed in 1953 by Bernard McAleer and Terence Teague, at its height, the company became contractor for many high profile projects across the North.

These included a multi-million pound refurbishment of the iconic St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh.

They also completed the contract for the Brandywell soccer stadium in Derry, the control and media centre at Healy Park in Omagh, and in the 1990s the firm completed the construction of the new Dunnes Stores building in Omagh.

However, more recently, McAleer and Teague has experienced financial difficulties. In 2018, they informed employees, customers, suppliers and sub-contractors that it had no option but to seek a Company Voluntary Arrangement and this had been drawn up with a restructuring and insolvency firm in Belfast.

The completion or termination of this was in June past, and the remaining employees were retained on furlough until the furlough scheme ended in October.

Dromore-based Sinn Fein councillor, Glenn Campbell, said the company had been important employers within the local construction community over many decades.

“They have been big employers over the years, especially for local people in Dromore and surrounding areas,” he said.

“McAleer and Teague were also involved in many good construction projects, winning numerous awards for the quality of their work.

“It is very much the end of an era that they will now be closing after almost 70 years of operation in this part of Tyrone and further afield.”