The award-winning York
Handmade Brick Company has supplied 10,000 specially manufactured bricks for
two new state-of-the-art developments in the Cork area of the Republic of
Ireland.
York Handmade, based at
Alne, near Easingwold, is providing bricks for a unique residential development
by County Cork builders McCarthy Quality Homes and for a large hi-spec new home
in Cork city centre, built by Colm Desmond Construction.
The company, the leading
UK small independent brickmaker, is supplying the bricks through Finbarr McCarthy
of Rubix Building Products in County Cork.
Finbarr explained: “Our
company aims, where at all possible, to source and promote sustainable and
natural products, which have a higher spec than you would normally find in a
builders’ merchants.
“We are aiming to attract
the discerning client, either architect or owner, who can see the value in
natural products like slate, clay tile and clay brick. I have dealt with the
excellent York Handmade Brick Company on and off over the past 20 years and
this has given me the confidence in both the product and the people.
“York Handmade bricks
have that kerb appeal, which make people go ‘Wow, that’s what I want’. We are
not interested in volume-driven products – we much prefer York Handmade’s
utterly unique clay bricks. And so do our customers.
“When I started my own
company in 2018, I knew that York Handmade were one of the manufacturers I wanted
to work with, so I contacted them to see could we promote their products. These
two splendid high-end Cork developments are the result.
“We are tremendously
pleased with the results and are delighted that we have re-established a route
into the Irish market for York Handmade again.”
David Armitage, the
chairman of York Handmade Brick, commented: “We are exceptionally pleased that
our bricks have been such a success in the Republic of Ireland and thank
Finbarr McCarthy and Rubix Building Products for their faith and confidence in
us.
“York Handmade has been
making award-winning bricks for over 35 years now and we have predominantly
supplied customers in the United Kingdom. To re-establish a connection in the
Republic of Ireland is magnificent news and we look forward to strengthening
our relationship with Finbarr and making many more bricks for homes and
developments in County Cork.
“I’d
particularly like to thank Tim Bristow, a founding member of York Handmade and
a superb salesman, for his work on securing these Cork contracts and ensuring
they have been a success.
“In the past we have had great
success across the border in Northern Ireland winning the Supreme Award in the
Brick Awards, the Oscars of the brick industry, for supplying the bricks for St
Brigid’s Church in Belfast.”
York
Handmade has recently invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has
transformed how the company makes bricks.
David
Armitage explained: “Over the years, we have undertaken significant
technological improvements, culminating in this £1.5 million overhaul and
renewal of our manufacturing process, which will speed up production,
facilitate two brand-new products and increase efficiency.”