Limerick-headquartered Kirby Group Engineering has officially opened its new office in Cape Town, the company's first base outside of Europe.
The company welcomed Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin to the office within the Newlands Cricket Ground. Mr Martin is on a trade mission to South Africa.
Kirby was set up by brothers Tom and Michael Kirby in Thomondgate in 1964 and since then has grown to become a provider of mechanical and electrical engineering contracting services.
It now employs over 1,400 staff across nine European countries and recorded a turnover of more than €454m last year.
The company's Cape Town team will be made up of engineers, quantity surveyors, talent acquisition specialists and others who can all contribute to projects on an off-site basis.
Kirby's group executive chairman Jimmy Kirby says the opening of the Cape Town facility marked an exciting step for the company.
"Our firm has recorded significant growth in recent years, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team and the trust placed in us by our valued customers. Expansion outside the EU and into South Africa represents a great opportunity to access local talent here and is a statement of confidence in the future of this company," he said.
"This move has been 12 months in the planning and execution, and we've enjoyed a very warm welcome from the South African government and business community," he added.
"Having visited Kirby's headquarters in 2021 for the announcement of another significant expansion plan, I’m delighted to be here today and see the continued growth of a strong Irish company - and indeed a milestone for the sector in which Kirby is operating," Tánaiste Micheál Martin said.
"Establishing a presence in South Africa offers many benefits to a company such as Kirby and I’d like to wish you every success as you build further on a great Irish business story. Ireland’s business and trade links with South Africa are strong and growing, and Kirby is very much at the forefront of that growth," he added.
