CORK BUILDERS PROVIDERS TAKES TOP HONOUR AT 2026 OCTABUILD AWARDS
Businesses and individuals from across Ireland recognised at the Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards 2026
Cork Builders Providers, Togher has been named the overall winner of the Octabuild Award for Excellence 2026at the all-island Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards. The company also won the Munster Regional Award.
The Awards were presented on Thursday, 1 October at an event hosted by broadcaster and sports presenter Jacqui Hurley in the Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin. Over 350 guests from across the builders merchant and construction sectors joined the eight Octabuild member companies – Bostik, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Keystone and Kingspan Insulation – to celebrate the businesses and people making an impact across the industry.
Guest of honour Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation congratulated the winners and all those recognised at the Awards: ‘Builders merchants play an important role in Ireland’s construction sector, supporting economic activity, employment and communities across the country. These Awards are an opportunity to recognise the businesses and people who contribute to the strength of the sector and its continued development.
‘Octabuild’s member companies each have a strong manufacturing base in Ireland, supporting jobs and helping to strengthen the Irish supply chain serving our construction industry. I commend Octabuild for its continued commitment to recognising excellence across the sector and congratulate all of this year’s winners, finalists and everyone who took part.’
The expanded 2026 Awards programme recognised excellence across the builders merchant sector, from customer experience and operational excellence to sustainability, digital innovation and the contribution of individuals. Four Regional Awards were presented, with the winners going forward for consideration for the overall Octabuild Award for Excellence.
New for 2026 were the Sustainable Business Excellence Award, Digital Excellence Awards, Octabuild Supporting Irish Award, sponsored by Guaranteed Irish, and Unsung Hero Award, while the Rising Star Award recognised emerging talent in the industry.
Overall winner Cork Builders Providers was selected from the four Regional Award winners. Judges Phil Derby and Steve Collinge described Cork Builders Providers as an outstanding operation, highlighting its strong leadership, exceptional customer service and product availability, and the quality of its people. They were particularly impressed by its culture of developing and promoting people from within, alongside its continued investment in innovation, digital services and sustainability.
Octabuild Chairperson Mike Glennon said: ‘On behalf of Octabuild, I congratulate all of our 2026 winners and everyone recognised at this year’s Awards. I also want to acknowledge every merchant and individual who took part and the considerable effort they put into the Awards.
‘We expanded the Awards this year to recognise excellence right across the sector – from how businesses are evolving to the contribution of the people behind them. This year attracted the highest number of entries in Octabuild Awards history, reflecting strong engagement from builders merchants across the island of Ireland.’
The 2026 Awards were judged by an independent panel comprising Phil Derby, Steve Collinge, Brian McIntyre and Lorraine Higgins.
Commenting on the judging process, the judges said: ‘The judging process gave us a real insight into the work being done across the industry. Through the entries and visits, we saw businesses of different sizes and types, each with their own strengths, but what consistently stood out was the commitment of their teams, their focus on customers and their determination to continue developing and improving.
‘There was a great deal for the judging panel to consider, and reaching our final decisions was far from easy. Those recognised at this year’s Awards can be extremely proud of what they and their teams have achieved.’
The Sustainable Business Excellence Award was presented to Stakelums Home & Hardware, Thurles along with the Digital Excellence Award 1-5 branches, while Chadwicks Robinhood Road received the Digital Excellence Award 6+ branches.
The Rising Star Award went to Sarah Topley, Haldane Fisher Lisburn while Billy McIvor, Murdock Builders Merchantsreceived the inaugural Unsung Hero Award.
The Octabuild Supporting Irish Award, sponsored by Guaranteed Irish was presented to Chadwicks Robinhood Road.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to Dan Twomey of Cork Builders Providers, recognising his outstanding contribution to the builders merchant sector over a career spanning almost five decades.
2026 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Award winners
Octabuild Award for Excellence 2026: Cork Builders Providers, Togher
Connacht/Donegal/Monaghan/Cavan Regional Award: Ganly’s Athlone
Leinster Regional Award: Chadwicks Sallynoggin
Munster Regional Award: Cork Builders Providers, Togher
Northern Ireland Regional Award: JP Corry Springfield Road, Belfast
Sustainable Business Excellence Award: Stakelums Home & Hardware, Thurles
Digital Excellence Award 1-5 branches: Stakelums Home & Hardware, Thurles
Digital Excellence Award 6+ branches: Chadwicks Robinhood Road
Octabuild Supporting Irish Award, sponsored by Guaranteed Irish: Chadwicks Robinhood Road
Rising Star Award: Sarah Topley, Haldane Fisher Lisburn
Unsung Hero Award: Billy McIvor, Murdock Builders Merchants
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dan Twomey, Cork Builders Providers
Further information on the winners is available at www.octabuild.ie/awards.
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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
