For high-performance, value-added agricultural buildings, farmers in County Cork need look no further than T&D O’Keeffe Bros Ltd., who deliver a complete construction service from start to finish on every project. We travelled to Banteer and caught up with Diarmuid O’Keeffe to find out more about this exceptional, customer-focused family business.
Established in March 2008 by brothers Thomas and Diarmuid O’Keeffe, both of whom boast strong agri and construction backgrounds, T&D O’Keeffe Bros in Banteer, County Cork is a proven one-stop shop for the professional fabrication and erection of a complete range of premium farm buildings.
The real beauty of this highly-regarded and in-demand family operation lies not just in the wide range of products and services provided but also the convenient fact that T&D O’Keeffe Bros covers every base from design and the supply of all materials, groundworks to concrete and steel contracting, meaning there is only a single point of contact across the entire project.
Thus, T&D O’Keeffe Bros is firmly established as the ideal choice for the rapid and efficient delivery of everything from turnkey general purpose farm buildings (including grant-approved work) to slurry storage tanks, slatted units, etc.
“Farmers are busy and they really appreciate the fact that we can take on the whole job from start to finish,” notes Diarmuid O’Keeffe, who set up the business just over 18 years ago in conjunction with his brother Thomas.
The move into agri buildings was a natural one as both siblings, who grew up on a family farm, had previously worked in construction. T&D O’Keeffe Bros Ltd. ties these experiences together perfectly and has been a tremendous success story since its inception during the death knell of the so-called Celtic Tiger…
“The building boom took a massive hit and this was a much busier area, so it seemed like an obvious road to go down,” Diarmuid recalls. “I have to say it’s gone very well for us and we’re flat-out at the minute, thankfully.”
This doesn’t happen by accident but is a direct consequence of the superb workmanship and stellar service levels with which T&D O’Keeffe Bros has become synonymous over the years, culminating in a steady stream of repeat business as well as a healthy volume of new clients on the basis of the inherent quality of previously-completed work and invariably-positive word of mouth.
With regard to the core products / services provided to an ever-expanding base of satisfied clients, Diarmuid continues: “The main thing we do is the fabrication and erection of steel buildings – industrial and agri. We also do formwork / concrete and both those services go hand in hand on many projects. Everything is done in-house by our own team and myself and Thomas are hands-on, onsite every day.
“We cover Cork, Kerry and Limerick predominantly and we’re working on a job in Roscrea, Tipperary at the minute. Word is spreading about the service we provide and you go where the work is,”
As dairy farmers themselves, Thomas and Diarmuid have a good insight into exactly what a farmer has in mind when he is in the market for a new storage shed or agri building. Customers can rest assured that they are dealing with men who know their way around a farm and understand what a cost-effective and lasting new agri building should entail and how it should perform.
“We know how farmers think, what they are looking for, and that helps with the design process before you start building. As we’re able to see things from both sides, and have come up on twenty years’ experience doing agri buildings, we’re also in a unique position to be able to advise them on what is the best approach for each project. No two jobs are the same, but you give them all your full attention.”
Fantastic workmanship is at the heart of everything T&D O’Keeffe Bros does and Thomas and Diarmuid have surrounded themselves with skilled, experienced and motivated workers. The directly-employed in-house workforce at the time of writing comprises ten men, divided into four crews, which enables them to work on a number of projects simultaneously at any given time.
“Good men are hard to get so you have to look after them,” says Diarmuid. “Most of the lads have been with us long-term. You’d be lost without them. We were lucky ourselves with the way things worked for us when we set the business up … we couldn’t have timed it better.
“We were plastering contractors but when the boom went bang we got into this side and it’s worked out really well so far. It’s something you never take for granted. We know that you’re only ever as good as your last project, so we have to keep the standards high and continue to give all our customers the best possible products and service.”
As for the key to the success to date and enduring longevity of T&D O’Keeffe Bros, Diarmuid comments: “I’d put it down to the quality of work and the versatility in what we can do. We pride ourselves on giving a good service and a personal touch. Another thing is we respect farmers and appreciate them and enjoy working with them. We’re farmers ourselves, milking 180 cows [supplying North Cork Co-Op], so it’s a way of life that’s close to our hearts. The dairy farm is going well, too, so we’re being kept busy between the two!”
Looking to the future, it’s onwards and upwards for T&D O’Keeffe Bros Ltd.! “The plan is to try to keep going as we are going,” Diarmuid concludes. “The industrial side of it – warehouses and specialised buildings – is getting busier and we’re providing a keen service all across Munster with that. We’ll keep going. It doesn’t come easy … there are a lot of early starts and late finishes but we enjoy what we do and appreciate the loyalty and support of our customers and staff, so we can’t complain.”
Nor indeed can the many farmers who have availed of a fantastic T&D O’Keeffe Bros agri building!
T&D O’Keeffe Bros Ltd.,
Banteer,
County Cork.
Tel: 086 8916452 / 087 6764959
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 14 No 2, Summer 2026
