Sisk 150

150th Book Launch

sisk — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:44:58 +0000

George, Owen and Hal Sisk

After much research, layout, writing and editing the 150th Anniversary Book was launched on Tuesday 15th December 2009. The launch took place at SISK Group headquarters on the Naas Road , Dublin with over 100 staff members present.

George Sisk launched the book and reflected on the history of the firm and the basis for its success. He thanked all employees both past and present for their untiring work which has enabled Sisk to be the standard bearer for quality products and services in all the sectors the Group serves. All staff each received a copy of the book which is available for viewing on this website.

GAA 125 Schools Day

sisk — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:22:13 +0000

This year the GAA are celebrating their 125th Anniversary of the establishment of the Association in Thurles, Co. Tipperary on 1st of November 1884. As part of the celebrations The Irish Times and The Sisk Group who are both celebrating 150th Anniversaries this year teamed up with the GAA and Cumann na mBunscol and held a photography competition on The GAA 125 Schools Day which took place on Friday 24 April 2009. Winning Schools received prizes of sports equipment to help the students improve their GAA Skills.

Among the suggestions for ways in which schools could take part were: pupils could wear their GAA colours (club, school or county) to school; a past or present GAA personality could be invited in to talk to pupils; teachers could use the GAA Céim ar Aghaidh/Step Ahead resource to deliver a GAA-themed lesson in any subject; pupils could complete GAA projects and display them around the school; the Fun Do coaching resource could be used to coach a Gaelic games training session; organise a Gaelic games competition (hurling, football, camogie, handball or rounders).

St Colmcilles Community School, Knocklyon, Dublin

St. Mary's Primary School, Aughlisnafin, Co Down

Sisk Group Charity Cycle 2009

sisk — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:15:41 +0000

On Saturday the 13th June, over 40 SISK Group staff members safely returned to Dublin following completion of a charity cycle from Cork to Dublin in aid of the Hospice Home Care for Children Campaign. The cycle was organised to commemorate the 150th anniversary, and also the historic links for the SISK Group having been founded in Cork in 1859.

Coincidentally, the distance of 150 miles was completed over two days, 90 miles to Durrow on the 1st day, followed by 60 miles the following day.

It was a major undertaking for many of the cyclists, and congratulations are in order to everybody, particularly to those who had only taken up cycling prior to the training events.
The training camps were an essential ingredient and proved very beneficial to all participants. They also greatly contributed to the success of the event.

The cycle not only relied on the dedication of the cyclists but also on the dedication of the support team that accompanied the group.
Cakes were baked and flasks were filled for the journey.
Any likely mechanical problem was planned for with spare bicycles and wheels on hand in the back up vehicles should they be needed. Thankfully there were very few problems.

The support within the team itself was just as impressive. No one was allowed to fall behind with the cyclists organised in three groups to suit pace, and then sticking together come hail or shine. Luckily the 2 days brought mainly shine with the sun beating down at the CityWest Hotel on Saturday when the cyclists returned to a heroes’ welcome.

Plaques made by the John G Sisk Training Centre / Joinery Works were awarded to each cyclist at the presentation at City West Hotel.

The planning of the event by all concerned, proved paramount in ensuring that the event was an enjoyable, fun and most importantly, a safe event.

The event raised over €70,000 for the Irish Hospice Children’s Palliative Care programme.

Mozambique Building Project

sisk — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:50:43 +0000

May 2009 saw the SISK Group partnering with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Ireland to work on their ‘Global Village: Orphans & Vulnerable Children’ project in Mozambique. This afforded ten SISK Group staff members the opportunity to travel to Mozambique for eight days to help ensure that the most needy and vulnerable of society are given the opportunity to grow up within their family units and communities. The group of ten was formed and the planning and fundraising began in earnest. With the SISK Group meeting the costs of travel and accommodation, the team were gladly spreading the word that every penny raised would be spent directly on materials for the houses they would be building. In spite of the short lead time to departure, coupled with the current economic climate, the response to their fundraising was overwhelming. Each team member far exceeded their target of €2,000 and between them raised over €26,000. When added to the SISK Group contribution, the overall total achieved reached over €46,000.

Sisk Apprentices win 2009 National Joinery Award

sisk — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:05:12 +0000

Richard Sutton, 3rd year Apprentice Carpenter/Joiner is the winner of the Joinery Section at the National Skills Competition 2009 and Michael Dunne, 4th year Apprentice Carpenter/Joiner came second in this category.

This is a major achievement for Richard and Michael especially as their success comes during our 150 Year Celebrations.

This annual event has been running at Cork Institute of Technology since 1973 and is organised by the CIT NSC Organising Committee in partnership with the Department of Education and Science.

The aim of the Joinery Competition is to make a timber project, which will test a range of the competitior’s woodworking skills. Typical joinery items would be doors, windows, stairs, gates and panelling. Key areas for success are accuracy of drawing, setting out and cutting of all parts using a combination of hand and machining skills. Knowledge of each process, good hand/eye co-ordination and speed is vital. The finished project should appeal to the eye and have a fine surface finish which shows craftsmanship.

Once again congratulations to Richard and Michael and to Dave Tracey, Training Centre Manager. Dave does an excellent job in encouraging the Apprentices and instiling confidence in them to enter such competitions.

Pictured are John Twohig, Chair of CIT NSC Organising Committee, Batt O’Keeffe, Minister of Education & Science, David Tracey, Joinery/Training Centre Manager, John Sisk & Son Ltd., Richard Sutton, Winner of Joinery Competition and Dr. Barry O’Connor, Registrar, CIT.

Sisk celebrate 5 Years in Bristol

sisk — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:53:35 +0000

Sisk UK’s Western Region recently hosted the First Thursday Club lunch in Bristol to launch celebrations of the 150^th Anniversary as well as five years in the Bristol office. The First Thursday Club is an association of construction and property professionals and over 200 people attended the event held on the 8th January.

Sisk 150th Anniversary Film

sisk — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:53:40 +0000

A 10 minute film commissioned for the 150 year anniversary of John Sisk & Son Ltd.

The film briefly explores the history of the company, it’s present and it’s future. It is now available for viewing in the media section of this site.

Sisk Toy Story

sisk — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:37:16 +0000

Sisk have been making Wooden Toys at Christmas for over 40 years for children’s charities. This very admirable task was started by John G Sisk in the old Sisk Joinery.Today we have a state of the art training facility for apprentice carpenters and joiners located at our Head Office in Dublin. This facility is headed up by Dave Tracey, Training Centre Manager.

Dave and his team continue with the toy making tradition. Work on the toys commences in mid November and takes 4 to 5 weeks to complete. All staff and management at the Training Centre are involved. The team decide on the toys they are going to make sourcing their ideas from toy books, various websites and feedback from the charities who have received toys in the past.

Our suppliers are generous in giving special rates for the materials used to make the toys bearing in mind what the task is all about. Apprentices that go through the training system will only get one year where they are involved in making the toys. They will always remember it as being something special and different to the norm knowing that the children will value and get many hours of playtime which in some cases would be less than the norm.

Each year over 50 charities benefit from the toys made at the Sisk Training Centre.

Sisk Group Community Volunteer Programme

sisk — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:18:38 +0000

As part of our 150th anniversary activities the Sisk Group Volunteer Programme has been launched. This project has the purpose to bring together the resources of all the group companies, working together to help make a difference to a number of community organisations during the 150th anniversary year. Despite the challenging times ahead the Sisk Group want to support the underprivileged in our local communities and abroad. We feel that the wealth of skills, knowledge and experience from across our organisation will be greatly beneficial to our communities and the Sisk Group Volunteering Programme provides our employees with the opportunity to reach out to the less well off.
Throughout the year 2009 we will be working closely with a number of organisations in which our employees can volunteer, across Ireland as well as overseas in Africa.
Each partner organisation has identified a project/challenge they need help with that would create a meaningful impact. The projects range from helping to build a sensory garden for a school in Kilkenny for children with special needs, painting a disadvantaged community housing scheme in Dublin and building homes for vulnerable children in Africa.

We intend to add news to this site during the course of the various challenges in 2009.

Giddy Up! Construction Raceday 2008 – Bath Races

sisk — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:00:56 +0000

Sisk UK West Region recently sponsored the 14.10 John Sisk 150th Anniversary Stakes at Bath Races Property Raceday.
The race was won by Irish horse Brief Encounter to the delight of most of the Sisk table. Guests and staff had a fantastic day out, in wonderful weather as the West kicked off the 150th celebrations in style.

Pictured Regional Marketing Manager, Phil Bailey presenting First Prize to the winning owners Thurloe Thoroughbreds.