Flogas and Men’s Shed Celebrate ‘Grand National’ with Nina Carberry

Former champion jockey Nina Carberry was the special guest at the prizegiving for the Grand National-themed Flogas/Men’s Shed ‘Reimagine Drogheda’ competition recently at the Millmount Museum in Drogheda. The ‘Reimagine Drogheda’ competition was created by Flogas as energy partner for the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) to commemorate a legendary Irish winner of the 1898 Aintree Grand National named ‘Drogheda’. The champion racehorse was born and reared in Knockbrack House, Drogheda, the site of the head office of Flogas Ireland, and won the iconic race as a 25-1 outsider. The overall winner was the Ardara Men’s Shed in Donegal. Using material that included horseshoe nails, timber, Donegal tweed, leather and even bone. The members created a stunning 3D collage in which the media coverage generated by the horse’s surprise win also formed a central part of the piece. John Rooney, managing director, Flogas Ireland presented members of the Ardara Men’s Shed with the winning voucher for ¤2,500. He said, “Congratulations to the Ardara members on their well-deserved win and a huge thank you to all the other Sheds that submitted top-class entries. The competition struck a chord with the members, and I think it’s because the Grand National is such an iconic race, few others come close. It takes an incredibly special horse to win it and Drogheda was one of those. The competition is a fitting tribute to his memory.” The regional winners were Drogheda Men’s Shed, Doon & District Limerick, Kinlough Men’s Shed in Leitrim and Tullyallen Men’s Shed in Louth. Dundalk Men’s Shed and Clane Men’s Shed were joint runners up. The panel of judges were John Crumlish, chief executive of the Galway International Arts Festival, Vicki Donlon, commercial manager, Horse Racing Ireland, Dom Gradwell, the great grandson of Drogheda’s owner George Gradwell and Flogas brand ambassador, former Olympian David Gillick.

Michael Molloy from Ardara Men’s Shed in Donegal, Nina Carberry, John Rooney, Managing Director, Flogas Ireland and David Gillick, Flogas brand ambassador and one of the competition judges.

WOLSELEY BUYS BACK IRISH BUSINESSES

Plumbers Merchant Wolseley UK has bought Irish heating, plumbing, tiling and bathroom businesses Heat Merchants, and the Hevac Group, and their subsidiaries. The Heat Merchants business comes with Tubs & Tiles, one of the largest tile and bathroom retailers in Ireland, with 12 showrooms nationwide as well as established eCommerce commercial channels. Heat Merchants, which focuses on the heating and plumbing sector, has 31 branches across Ireland together with a central warehouse and distribution hub in Athlone. Hevac Ltd. specialises in heating systems to the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. Its capabilities include large industrial steam systems, underfloor heating, district heating, and renewable energy solutions. Hevac engages with customers from the project concept stage to project delivery. The transaction also includes the acquisition of Tube Company of Ireland Ltd, Polytherm Heating Systems Ltd, Origen Energy Limited and Aluminox Ltd, which are all part of the Hevac Group. Simon Oakland, CEO Wolseley UK, said: “This is a very exciting announcement for Wolseley as it acquires Heat Merchants, Tubs & Tiles, and Hevac, all well-known brands in Ireland providing a local and personal service, which Wolseley will further build on. Wolseley, itself, is undergoing an ambitious growth strategy through business acquisition and this latest announcement is a key part of this.” Heat Merchants and Tubs & Tiles have been owned by Wolseley in the past and were sold off in 2010. The acquisition is subject to clearance from the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.