Conor is the son of Gabriel O’Brien who in 1981 founded the crane hire company that bears his name.
Conor attended St.Peter’s School in Dunboyne, after which, following his father’s passion for the construction industry, he studied at Dundalk Institute of Technology, where he attained a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He completed his studies at Liverpool John Moores University, with a further Civil Engineering qualification.
Ireland’s Leading Mobile Crane Fleet
Today, Conor runs the crane company with his father. They operate a fleet of 35 cranes, including the 15-tonne mobile which was the sole asset of the company when it started, but also 3.5-tonne spider cranes and 500-tonne mobile and crawler cranes. The company operates in many sectors, such as construction, oil, and wind energy; they offer a 24-hour service in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The business uses the latest technology, including RAMS (Risk Assessment Method Statement) and 3D CAD drawings to plan and carry out large and complicated crane lifts with accuracy and safety.
A Hands-On Approach
Despite his management role within the company, Conor retains a ‘hands-on’ approach, describing himself as a ‘grease monkey’. A major recent project was in Kildare, where a new under bridge was installed under the railway line from Dublin to Cork, to accommodate the construction of the M7 Osberstown Interchange and R407 Sallins Bypass. The under bridge was constructed in sections beside the line before being craned into place, with minimal disruption to the rail service, which was shut down for the purpose over the 2018 Easter period.
