Dominic Doheny shares vision for the Midlands at Founders Friday event

Over 50 entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across Offaly gathered in Eugene Kelly’s Bar Tullamore on Friday night last for another sold-out Founders Friday — the popular networking series hosted by Allpro Recruitment in association with Tullamore and District Rotary.

This month’s fireside guest was Dominic Doheny, Joint Managing Director of John Flanagan Developments, former President of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), and a passionate advocate for long-term, sustainable development in the Midlands.

In a candid and inspiring conversation, Dominic shared stories from his 40+ year career in construction and leadership with his involvement in John Flanagan Developments development of over 1,000 homes, 250,000 square feet of industrial real estate, 150,000 square feet of office real estate and the landmark Tullamore Court.

“If the town prospers, your company prospers,” Dominic told those in attendance.

He also spoke openly about the housing crisis and the urgent need for infrastructure-first. If it is not built underground, you cannot build overground.

Dominic noted, “without water, electricity, sewerage, and schools — the houses can’t come.”

From his tenure as Chair of the National Housebuilding Association to his leadership as President of the Construction Industry Federation, Dominic has witnessed and been privy to the challenges faced by builders over the years. He praised mental health initiatives in the industry, like Accessible Counselling Tullamore, and highlighted the importance of mentorship, recognising potential, and sharing ownership to future-proof a business.

“Every great company has a finder, a minder, and a grinder. A finder finds new business, a minder minds the business and a grinder steers the ship. As a founder, you need to offload at least one or two of those roles or you’ll burn out,” he advised.

The atmosphere at Founders Friday was energetic and community-driven, with attendees staying long after the fireside chat for refreshments and networking.

“Dominic’s talk was packed with practical wisdom, but also deeply rooted in a love for this region.

“This is exactly what Founders Friday is about — honest stories, bold ideas, and building a better future for the Midlands," David Gleeson, CEO and Founder of Allpro Recruitment, said.

“You have to have many ideas for one to come home,” Dominic added, closing the evening with one of his guiding principles.