Celebrating 25 years in business, Kerr Steel is a one-stop shop for all your farm building requirements. Based in Kilmacrennan, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, it also specialises in the fabrication and erection of structural steel for the industrial and commercial sectors.
The company was set up by father-and-son Robin and Ivan Kerr, who are joined by Ivan’s sons Richard and Ivan Jnr along with Adrian Rankin. Whereas the agri sector once accounted for most of Kerr Steel’s turnover, it now makes up less than 50% as the family business branches more and more into other areas. That said, Kerr Steel continues to be synonymous with the fabrication and erection of farm buildings which are robust, secure, attractive in appearance and are built to last a lifetime.
“We provide a range of farm and industrial buildings which are manufactured to the highest standards and to your exact requirements,” Ivan explains.
“I have been in this business since I was 15 and my father has been in it for much longer. We have a wealth of experience when it comes to making quality sheds and units.”
Outstanding workmanship, attention to detail, value-for-money and a commitment to working closely with clients to deliver complete satisfaction are the hallmarks of Kerr Steel. Health & Safety is at the core of the business, and never more so than since the Covid-19 pandemic. From concept to completion, the Kerr team are with you every step of the way, ensuring your new shed is built and designed to your specific needs.
Their ability to complete projects within the agreed timeframe and budget is borne out by the high volume of repeat business and referrals they receive from satisfied customers in Donegal and beyond.
Kerr Steel can fabricate and erect any size of building to your design, or assist you in designing it to suit your needs. Only the best materials go into making a Kerr building. The company’s main supplier is Fleming Steel in St Johnston. It also buys timber from Fleming’s and McFadden Timber Products, whose yard is located nearby.
“We buy most of our products from Fleming’s, including steel, timber, sheeting, gutters and fixings. We have built up an excellent relationship with them going back over many years. We can always count on them for our materials,” Ivan says.
Fabrication is carried out at Kerr Steel’s state-of-the-art workshop in Kilmacrennan, which is six miles from Letterkenny. The workshop is equipped with everything from welders, bandsaws and punching machines to guillotines, 3m and 6m folding machines and plasma cutters.
“We are a small team who divide our time between the workshop and onsite. We’re a mix of steel fabricators, erectors and welders. We have our own teleporter and can do everything ourselves from the ground up with the help of Seamus and Sean Crawford, who are local concrete specialists.”
Kerr Steel is always kept busy between farm, commercial and industrial projects. The vast majority of its agri customers are involved in dairy and beef. “Dairy farming is going great at the moment which is good news for us because we rely on them for business,” Ivan points out.
One of Kerr Steel’s most recent farm projects was a large unit for Alistair Doherty of Bobby Doherty Agri, who featured on TG4’s ‘Contractors’ series last year. As well as being an agri contractor, Alistair and his father Bobby farm 250 acres in Ramelton, Co. Donegal.
The Kerrs are currently reroofing the Molloy & Sons Donegal Tweed premises in Ardara, Co. Donegal and are erecting nine 30x15ft glamping pods in Creeslough. They also carry out roof maintenance works for Mulrines in Ballybofey on an ongoing basis. Manufacturers and distributors of fruit juices, Mulrines will shortly open a second manufacturing facility in Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone.
“We’ve done a lot of pods for glamping sites and also did a commercial job in Dundee where we turned an old call centre into an industrial unit for renting out. ‘Word of mouth’ is the best form of advertising and has led to us securing many agri and industrial projects. You’re only as good as your last job in this game.”
As a family business, reputation means everything to Kerr Steel which continues to go from strength to strength by providing a personal, friendly and unrivalled service.
Ivan concludes by saying: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers and suppliers for the support and loyalty they have shown to us since the beginning. We won’t be beaten on quality, service, reliability or price.”
Here’s to the next 25 years!
Kerr Steel
Leiter,
Kilmacrennan,
Letterkenny,
Co. Donegal.
Telephone: 074 9139348 / 086 3813135
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 11 No 2, March/April 2023
