Donegal duo delight in their role delivering for local communities

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Burt native Martin McGrath has enjoyed a career in construction engineering and project management that has brought him around the world. He has worked across the UK, Taiwan, Denmark and Germany amassing a wealth of experience in the delivery of major infrastructural projects.

However, it is Uisce Éireann’s sustained investment in his home county that has given Martin the greatest sense of pride and job satisfaction.

As a senior project resident engineer, Martin leads the team of resident engineers on behalf of Uisce Éireann, on two highly significant Uisce Éireann wastewater investments underway in Donegal – the €50m project to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure for Ramelton, Milford, and Rathmullan, (RMR), with four new pumping stations, and pipelines to a new wastewater treatment plant and the €29.5m investment in upgrading wastewater infrastructure for communities in Mountcharles, Kilmacrennan and Carrigart, (KCM) with three new pumping stations, pipelines and two new wastewater treatment plants.

Since 2019 Martin has been working on projects for Uisce Éireann in his home county and says the scale of the investment across Donegal is “phenomenal”.

A proud Donegal man, he has a strong sense of pride at Uisce Éireann’s scale of investment in his home county.

Speaking from his Kilmacrennan office, west of Letterkenny, where his team has been working from, Martin knows that the delivery of these upgrades to the wastewater infrastructure will be a massive boost to the towns and benefit to the local community.

“The rewarding part is that we’re involved in works that are improving the environment and developing infrastructure which is enabling communities to grow. These are hugely satisfying projects because we’re upgrading infrastructure that was fit for purpose at the time, some of it built in the 1970s, but the towns have since expanded. The reality is, for areas like Mountcharles, Kilmacrennan and Carrigart, if you don’t have the infrastructure, your town can’t expand.

“If your town can’t expand, the young people leave because they can’t build homes for their own families. The legacy of our works here is that we’re future proofing for these areas for growth for the next 50 years which is fantastic.”

The RMR project is on course to be in operation later this year and the KCM project is on course to be complete in 2026 and will result in increased capacity at the newly constructed wastewater treatment plants and new pumping stations and pipe lines.  These projects will also improve the water quality in the Lough Swilly, Mulroy Bay, Rivers Lurgy and Leannan and Donegal Bay, and reduce flooding risks.

Martin has not only seen the huge benefits of these project for the communities that will benefit from them, but for the dozens of people involved in their construction and operation of the upgrades.

“The infrastructure upgrade works here in the RMR and KCM projects alone has given employment to more than 30 people, working on the project every week. Local supply chains have also benefited from providing materials and services for the works. From plant operators, pipelayers to joiners and general operators as well as steel fixers mechanical and electrical teams, the people employed over the 24-month construction phase are mostly local people.

There are people working with us on these projects that would otherwise have to travel to the UK or Dublin or further for work.

“Because of investment like this by Uisce Éireann, they find they are at able to be at home. They’re able to go to the do the homework with the kids in the evenings. They are at home with families and able to give quality time to family. The construction began in January 2023, so for so many people working on these wastewater upgrades in Kilmacrennan, Carrigart, Mountcharles, Ramelton, Milford, and Rathmullan, their commute to work is the lowest it has ever been. The pride local workers have in delivering a project that benefits their own area or county is very rewarding. I know it, because I am one of them,” he explained.

Working close to home and as a member of the North West Golf Club in Lisfannon means Martin can enjoy more of his favourite pastime.

“I think it would be a stretch to say it has improved my golf game any, but being closer to home for me means I can have more time with family and friends instead of being in other parts of the world,” he enthused.

The importance of working with local communities is something that Martin places great emphasis on and knows how crucial it is that people are kept up to date with information relating to projects that may impact them.

“We speak to residents and businesses in advance, and throughout the construction phases.  We’ve got liaison officers on these projects keeping people informed. We work with the community; they’re talking to us all the time. They realise the benefit of what we’re doing here, we’re not working against them; we’re working with them and disruption is only for short periods.

“In Ramelton we worked with the local authority to complete our works in advance of the towns regeneration project and in Mountcharles we accelerated a portion of the works because we knew there was upgrades taking place in the town with new footpaths, new roads; so we went in ahead of that and got our pipelines in so that when it came to the local authority coming with their programme of works, it’s just working smart. Working with the community and they appreciate that openness and that the lines of communication are there.

“In Carrigart, work at the existing treatment plant is being upgraded which will ensure the wastewater is treated to a standard that protects the environment. Not only will the works put a stop to partially treated wastewater being discharged to Donegal Bay and Mulroy Bay, but it will deliver additional capacity for the area. Again, we’re future proofing the area for social needs,” he added.

Having spent decades working abroad, it is the Uisce Éireann projects that Martin is now involved with that give him a great sense of achievement. Like so many others in the 1980s, options in construction and engineering locally were limited. He was part of the emigration wave of the 1980s, which saw him “take to the boat and head for the UK” to forge a career.

“There was real no future for anyone in the ‘80s, especially with the type of work I wanted to do. There wasn’t a great deal of opportunity. Fast forward to now, and Uisce Éireann’s projects offer opportunities to bring people home from abroad and they’re bringing their amazing talent back with them.

“They’ve learned a lot of skills while they’ve been away and a skillset that they may never have been exposed to here. I’ve been in infrastructure all of my working life, so all of the those projects whether it was when I was working in Denmark, Taiwan or Germany, it was all about benefitting people and allowing areas to grow. So, what we’re doing here locally is hugely fulfilling. We’re improving the environment and ensuring that communities can grow. As a Donegal man being a part of these transformative projects in my home county is immensely rewarding.”

Less than an hour over the road in Mountcharles, Shane O’Sullivan and his team are working to ensure that the upgrades will result in improved water quality for Donegal Bay which will in turn benefit the tourism and fishing industries.

The project involves replacing two outdated and underperforming wastewater treatment plants and replacing them with modern pumping stations that will transport the village’s wastewater to the advanced Donegal Town Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Senior resident engineer Shane, who lives with his family in Barnesmore Gap, looks forward to the positive impact the improvements in Mountcharles will have on the community from both an environmental and social viewpoint.

“The modern, reliable infrastructure that we’re building here replaces outdated infrastructure with a modern system that supports the community’s wellbeing and ensures environmental sustainability for the future. We’re removing the potential for sewer overflows and odour issues for the people of the village, especially in areas like Lower Main Street where residents often experienced problems. The stormwater tanks we’re building will manage heavy rain better reducing flooding risks. Essentially, this investment will ensure a cleaner environment and more protection for Donegal Bay resulting in healthier ecosystems in the bay.”

With over 25 years of experience in the engineering sector, Shane has spent the majority of his career working on the design and development of roads and bridges across the country. While he took great pride in the technical challenges and achievements that came with his work, the nature of these large infrastructure projects often required extensive travel and long periods away from home. Over time, this meant that Shane was spending less and less time with his wife, Elaine, and their three children—something that became increasingly difficult as his children grew older and more involved in school, sports, and community life.

As a proud uncle of Donegal GAA All-Star Peadar Mogan and a lifelong member of a passionate, “GAA mad” family, Shane has always valued a strong connection to his roots in Donegal. So, when the opportunity arose to take on work locally through Uisce Éireann projects, he didn’t hesitate. Over the past two years, Shane has been contributing to a variety of wastewater infrastructure projects across the county, work that not only aligns with his engineering background but also offers him the chance to stay close to home.

This shift has made a meaningful difference in his daily life. Shane now enjoys a short commute, which has allowed him to be more present with his family and more engaged in his community. He is an active member of his local GAA club, Four Masters, and contributes to the work of the local Foróige youth organisation.

“Uisce Éireann’s investment in Donegal has been a game changer for me personally,” Shane says. “I’m home every evening and now can really be involved in the life of my kids and my community. That wasn’t possible when I was working 200 miles away from home. I’m genuinely proud to be part of these Uisce Éireann projects because they’re not just improving water services—they’re improving the quality of life in our towns and villages, helping to protect the environment, and building a better future for our children.”