Timmy Boyle, owner of Atlantic Composites, a boat manufacturing business in Donegal’s Gaeltacht, has had a love of boats since he was a young boy. A native of Gaoth Dobhair, Timmy has been fortunate to have lived beside the Wild Atlantic Ocean most of life. In 1976, he travelled to London to pursue greener pastures at a time when there was little work in rural Donegal. That lasted only 6 years and he returned to settle back in Gaoth Dobhair with his wife and three children, where he started working for an electronic components manufacturing company. Unfortunately that company closed in the mid 2000’s and he was left unemployed. Married with 3 of a family and a passion for boats, Timmy always wanted to have his own boat building business.
In 2008 Atlantic Composites, a boat design, boat manufacturing and boat maintenance repair business was established along with a business partner. Today, eight years later, Timmy continues to operate solely, a successful and growing boat manufacturing and repair business from the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park in Donegal’s Gaeltacht. The company has invested heavily in research and development in recent years. They supply boats and maintenance services to an extensive customer base, including the Irish Coastguard, Inland Fisheries Ireland, commercial ferries, sub-aqua clubs and numerous companies in the private and marine leisure sectors in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Atlantic Composites are the only boat manufacturing company in Ireland to use Vacuum Infusion technology to manufacture its RIB boats.
The company are actively linking with third level institutions to further develop the use of this technology for use in other products. Atlantic Composites currently employ 4 full time and 1 part time staff and were delighted when they secured at the end of 2015, a 5 year contract from The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. “We were delighted when we were awarded this contract for the next 5 years from the The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. We have already completed the first phase of the project. This year will see us complete the second phase, and with a maintenance contract secured for the next 5 years, along with servicing our existing client base, we will be in a position to employ at least another 2 or 3 people at our plant soon.”, says Timmy. “
Being based in what is generally regarded to be a “remote” part of the world has certainly not prevented us from expanding or doing business. We offer a collection and delivery service which has been a real benefit for our clients and they return time and time again.”
“I have been interested in the repair and use of boats from an early age and I am a great believer that to build a good boat you need to be a great boatman. All of the staff have the same passion for boats that I have and I have been really fortunate to have top class and experienced craftsmen working with me. They are all from the local area and I am delighted that I can provide them with employment. For them, working on a project and getting to test it personally in the waters, is rewarding.”, says Timmy.
“It’s not always “plain sailing” when setting up your own business, let alone a manufacturing business, and I have to personally say that Údárás na Gaeltachta have been a massive support to me since 2008. They have steered me in the right direction at every stage. Údarás provided us with a premises in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park, which they upgraded to a standard that enabled us to produce the boats, and along with a range of supports, training and networking opportunities, their help has without doubt added to our success.”, he said.
Atlantic Composites are also currently in discussions with marine agencies in the UK and hope to secure contracts for export in the coming 6 months.
“Our main focus for 2016 is to get our name out there to agencies across the waters in UK and to gain access to the export market. Our plan is to invest in online marketing activities that will raise more awareness of our company in an effort to attract more contracts globally and we are really looking forward to that.” he added.
“I would encourage any young person, unemployed person or anyone thinking about “taking the plunge” to start a business from Donegal’s Gaeltacht to contact the team at Údáras na Gaeltachta. I and my family have seen the young people from the area having no choice but to travel abroad for work over the past numbers of years. And it is so heartening to now see them return to their homes because companies like those that Údáras na Gaeltachta are supporting, are providing employment opportunities here for them. The future is bright for Atlantic Composites and we are looking forward to being at the “helm” of boat making in Donegal’s Gaeltacht for many years to come.” concludes Timmy Ends
Photo Caption : Timmy Boyle, Managing Director, Atlantic Composites
Photo : Paul Doherty Photography