3rd Longest Standing Crane Company, Wm. O'Brien Crane Hire to Close it's Gates.
- Meagan Wood
- Sep 21, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 19
30 Second Takeaway
Wm. O’Brien Crane Hire, a long-established name in the Irish crane industry, is set to close after 70 years in operation. Once a market leader in Cork and southern Ireland with some of the country’s largest cranes, the family-owned business has steadily reduced its fleet in recent years and will now cease trading, with staff supported through redundancy and suppliers to be fully paid.
End of an Era for Irish Crane Hire
After 70 years of service to the Irish construction industry, Wm. O’Brien Crane Hire is preparing to close its gates for the final time.
Information received by Crane Hub confirms that all staff will be made redundant, with suppliers to be fully paid by November. Several cranes have already been sold and removed from the fleet, with only a small number of trucks currently remaining on the market.
From Market Leader to Fleet Reduction
A Once-Dominant Southern Irish Operator
At its peak, Wm. O’Brien Crane Hire was the market leader in Cork and southern Ireland, operating some of the largest cranes in the country. The fleet previously included heavyweight units such as a Liebherr LG1550 and a Liebherr LTM 11200, placing the company among Ireland’s most capable heavy-lift providers.
In recent years, however, the business has experienced a rapid decline, both in fleet size and market presence.
Loss of Key Work and Operational Pressures
Challenges Since 2022
The company’s position weakened significantly after 2022, following the loss of its wind farm work in the United States. Since then, Wm. O’Brien Crane Hire has operated with a greatly reduced fleet of around eight cranes.
Its largest remaining unit has been a Liebherr LTM 1300, leased from Van Adrighem. Combined with ongoing difficulties in sourcing experienced crane operators locally, the business struggled to compete with larger, modern fleets operated by rivals such as East Cork Crane Hire, which runs cranes up to 750 tonnes.
A Family Legacy in Irish Cranes
William O’Brien Senior’s Journey
The company’s story is closely tied to William O’Brien Senior, a true Irish entrepreneur. From selling boiled sweets as a young teenager to trading mattresses and onions, O’Brien eventually found his calling in cranes.
The purchase of his first crane marked the beginning of what would become one of Ireland’s largest crane hire businesses. Although the company scaled back during the recession of the 1980s, Wm. O’Brien Crane Hire remained a respected name within both the Irish and international crane markets for decades.
Industry Outlook for Staff
A Difficult Closure, but a Strong Market
While the closure of such a long-standing family business is a sad moment for the industry, Ireland’s crane sector is currently experiencing strong demand.
Crane Hub understands that many operators and staff will not be out of work for long, with some already having received offers from other crane companies operating locally.
Editorial Note
Crane Hub News reports on company closures, fleet changes and market developments to document the evolution of the crane and lifting industry. This article is based on information available at the time of publication.
