Donegal tunnelling entrepreneur Joseph Gallagher celebrates 80th birthday while expanding business

Joseph Gallagher, an 80‑year‑old entrepreneur from Arranmore Island, continues to lead his tunnelling firm, Joseph Gallagher Limited, as it expands its international operations.

Gallagher founded the company in 1982 and it now records an annual turnover of more than £100 million. He remains active as Group Chairman, recently visiting the firm’s major Mandeville Road project to deliver a 90‑minute team talk on safety, communication and company culture.

In a Facebook post, the company highlighted Gallagher’s belief that leadership is about “showing up, sharing experience and inspiring others,” rather than titles or boardrooms. The message underscored the importance of people‑focused culture in an industry that “never stands still.”

Gallagher was awarded the James Clark Medal by the British Tunnelling Society in 2017. Since then, the business has grown beyond the United Kingdom and Ireland, establishing offices across the Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt and, three years ago, Lebanon.

He has previously said that tunnelling is “not about the machines, it’s about the tunnellers,” emphasizing the role of skilled workers in the sector’s success.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Sururi Ballıdağ Director / Pexels.