Milestone year for Finbarr O’Neill Ltd  

04/12/2025

Established in 1975, Finbarr O’Neill Ltd is a family-run company supplying Readymix Concrete, Quarry Products, Decorative Stone, Sand, Gravel, Aggregates and Precast Products which are used to supply Construction and Civils, Local Authority, Agriculture and Private Customers.   Irish Trucker touched base with Finbarr O’Neill himself to discuss the ins and outs of this business – from its impressive fleet to its hopes going forward. 

It is safe to say that 2025 is a landmark year for Finbarr O’Neill Ltd marking 50 years in business. Drawing out of four quarries down south, the Company’s Head Office is based in Poulavone, 
Ballincollig, Co Cork with a total of 40 staff approx.  

Finbarr O’Neill together with his brothers John and Francis and sister Lucia run the operation, following in the footsteps of their father Finbarr O’Neill Snr who set-up the business half a century ago with just a single truck. 

Building Ireland caught up with Finbarr O’Neill Jnr recently to hear more about the longevity behind the business and how it has managed to stand the test of time. 

“My dad started the business in 1975 and bought his first truck, which was an AEC Mandator,” explained Finbarr Jnr. “The registration was KIN 234.  With his first truck, he set up his own sandpit and supplied Readymix South West Ltd with Aggregate for a number of years.   

“Then we started supplying the general public and went into Ready mix concrete production in 1986 and that gave us a much larger customer base and a wider range of products. We supply local, national and international.” 

Since ‘Day One’, it has always prided itself on the personalised and dedicated service which it offers to customers and the local community. 

“It’s busy all the time, but this year there’s not the same demand. It has its moments but, I suppose, ‘steady’ is the word I would use to describe it,” Finbarr Jnr, reflected on the current state of business. 

While its Head Office and display area is located in Poulavone, Ballincollig, Co Cork, the company’s quarries are in Clashanure, Ovens (Main quarry, opposite the Lee Valley Golf Club), Glenville,  Dripsey and Mogeely.  

Finbarr O’Neills’ impressive fleet of trucks, which are draped in the proud red and white colours of Cork, can be seen day in, day out delivering Readymix and Stone products to clients. 

All in all, the business operates with 24 trucks on the road, many of which are of the tried and trusted Volvo brand.  

“Most of the fleet are Volvos, with a few Renault and Hinos as well. We run mostly rigid with some 5-axle trucks. 5-axle trucks are the way to go for our industry,” explained Finbarr Jnr. 

 

“We added a new 5-axle Volvo FH special edition and we managed to get the registration ‘252-C-50’ on it, so it was a nice plus supplied by McCarthy Commercials.” 

In July, that same 252-C-50 Volvo was on display at one of Ireland’s most popular truck shows.  

The Full of the Pipe in Mondello Park again was a huge success, and the occasion would see the latest addition to the Finbar O’Neill Ltd fleet enjoying some success of its own as it came third in the Best Rigid for 2025 category. 

“It was my first time visiting the show last year and this year we entered that Volvo 5-axle tipper truck and it came in third place which was a great achievement.” 

Business is good and the fleet is looking fantastic as usual. 

So, all of that considered, the clear question is what has been the secret behind the success of this family business over the past five decades?: “A loyal, dedicated team of staff, past and present enabled this, along with many loyal customers who believed in supporting local business and quarries and gave us the opportunity to stick with them.” 

Looking towards the months ahead for the company, the Corkonian is very much optimistic for them business-wise and the foreseeable future overall. 

“If the level of work that’s there continues, all is well. We are optimistic for the future. 

“The indicators are that the house building will continue.  It will have to continue to grow and there are a lot of commercial and exciting projects planned for Cork and Munster. 

“We are fortunate in that we are close to the city.  Cork is expanding all the time and has a lot of projects that will come on stream towards the end of the year”. 

Finbarr O’Neill Ltd 
Office & Display areas 
Poulavone, 
Ballincollig,  
Co Cork 
P31 F991 
Tel: +353-(21) 4871933 
Fax: +353-(21) 4873623 
Email: [email protected] 

Main quarry: 
Clashanure Ovens 
Eircode: P31 AH05 (zero five) 
For collections of stone & concrete & all other products: 
Glenville Quarry, 
Eircode: T56 Y934

First published in Irish Trucker magazine November/December 2025, Vol 28-6