Modern Quarrying Jan-Feb 2018

AT THE QUARRY FACE WITH KILLALA

Killala Rock – new quarry opens for business A new limestone quarry opened up in the Mulafarry area of Killala County Mayo recently and is now ready to supply the market with crushed stone products and topsoil. It will be trading under the name of Killala Rock Company. The owners, Rod Taylor and Brendan Mitchell, who is a native of Ballina, are proud of their achievement of moving on site on the 31 January 2006 and were up and running to supply products within a record three weeks. They feel that they have been lucky to get such a dedicated team of employees to help them with this challenge. Rod has over 25 years’ extensive experience in the quarrying industry and who, until recently managed the quarry in Carrowscoilte for Frank Harrington. He strongly believes that good staff are an integral part of any business and the quarry business is no different. He will take charge of the day-to-day running of the quarry at Killala, while Brendan will combine this venture with his other businesses in the UK. They say that the planning application was a challenging process as it involved the submission of very detailed drawings and documents as well as various technical reports on environmental impacts of the development. This was handled most professionally by Patricia Calleary, chartered engineer, Ballina,

who prepared the application and followed it through from beginning to end. The owners are delighted that they have received full permission for their operation particularly in light of the new stringent planning regulations being implemented for all quarries. The quarry is a very welcome addition to the area as it will bring great opportunity for new employment in North Mayo. It is seen as a major boost in an area that has come under some negative limelight in recent times. In addition to this, it will also create much needed business to suppliers both in and around Ballina and Killala areas and indeed Mayo in general. The quarry is naturally well screened with existing vegetation. In fact, one would be able to drive past and not even know that there was a quarry there. The owners are committed to respecting the landscape and to the restoration and rehabilitation on final future completion. Both Rod and Brendan are committed to having good, transparent relations and consultation with home owners adjacent to the site and will make all necessary efforts to minimise any impacts affecting them. They are looking forward to meet- ing all the residents in the area and establishing good neighbourly relations. – Western People, April 2005

Killala is here: Photo shows the article that appeared in the local newspaper in April 2005.

Killala takes shape “At this stage it was January 2005, and the equipment and plant we had ordered arrived from the UK. Our work was about to start: haulroads, removing overbur- den, creating a quarry face and most of all, looking for customers,” Taylor tells MQ , adding that this was the right time to place an advertisement in the local Western People newspaper. Determined to succeed Taylor says that he soon found that with the will and determination to strive for prosperity, “I was able to succeed. Although there were many hurdles to overcome and many risky decisions to make, we were there. The booming period called the Celtic Tiger was in full swing and the orders started to flow in. It certainly was a dream come true.” (Celtic Tiger is a term referring to the economy of the Republic of Ireland from the mid- 1990s to the late-2000s, a period of rapid real economic growth fuelled by foreign direct investment).

Taylor’s next venture includes a friend of his, who he says is a “computer whiz- kid from Postmasburg, who between us have designed an exciting truck move- ment weighbridge monitoring system. Installation is quick, the monthly cost is

“The Irish economy hit a recession in 2008 with sales dropping substan- tially and our business being affected. Fortunately, the recovery has picked up pace and things are returning to normal,” he says.

Colleagues and old friends, from right: Rod Taylor and Eike Grunwald, who is retired – both well- respected quarrymen.

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MODERN QUARRYING

Quarter 1 / 2018