The decades after 1950 marked a turning point for PJ Hegarty. The company entered a new phase of growth, guided by second-generation leadership and powered by a rising reputation for craftsmanship and reliability. In 1952, following the passing of founder Patrick Joseph Hegarty, his son Michael J. Hegarty took the helm. Under his direction, the business scaled steadily while staying anchored to the values that defined its early success.
This was an era of expanding ambition. PJ Hegarty moved from a strong Cork base into larger national contracts, delivering projects that shaped public life, industrial progress, and Ireland’s growing connectivity. By the early 1970s, the company had moved decisively into major, complex builds, setting the foundations for its emergence as a national leader in the decades to follow.
1952
Michael J. Hegarty became Managing Director in 1952, marking the start of second-generation leadership. His tenure brought continuity of values and a clear drive to evolve the company’s scale and reach, while protecting the reputation built in the first twenty-five years.
1962
The company’s long-standing relationship with Irish Distillers continued to deepen. In 1962 PJ Hegarty delivered the Bottling Hall at North Mall in Cork, one of the company’s most significant contracts of the decade. The scale of this project reflected a business that had matured quickly and earned the trust of major industry leaders.
1968
In 1968 PJ Hegarty delivered Cork County Hall, a landmark 16-storey civic headquarters for Cork County Council. At the time, it was the tallest building in Ireland, signalling the company’s capability to execute high-profile, technically ambitious projects on a major scale. The project also reinforced PJ Hegarty’s reputation for reliable delivery under demanding public scrutiny.
1970
As PJ Hegarty’s portfolio grew nationwide, the company established a permanent base in Dublin in 1970. The new office in Kilmainham reflected an expanding footprint and the need to support an increasing volume of projects beyond Munster.
1971
In 1971 PJ Hegarty entered aviation construction with the new passenger terminal at Shannon Airport. It was a strategic milestone and the beginning of a transport legacy that would later include some of the most significant aviation developments in Ireland and the UK.
1972
The early 1970s culminated in one of the most notable industrial projects in Ireland at the time. PJ Hegarty delivered the Ferenka Steel-Cord Factory in County Limerick, described as the largest single project in the state’s history to date. The company completed the vast facility on record timelines, a clear demonstration of capability, coordination, and momentum at national scale.
