Timely opportunity for trio with outdoor space business
By Maurice Garvey
THE latest easing of Covid-19 restrictions emphasises the need for outdoor spaces, something which has never been as important as it is now.
From June 7, outdoor hospitality, including restaurants and pubs, can resume, but a problem for many is the lack of facilities.
Adam Rankin and Maurice Byrne of Outdoor Spaces; Brian Fallon of Fallon’s of Kilcullen and Denis O’Reilly of Outdoor Spaces pictured with the 7m x 5m motorised umbrella installed at Fallon’s of Kilcullen
One such company best placed to meet this demand is Outdoor Spaces, who install spacious canopies for clients of different backgrounds, ranging from schools to homeowners.
The easing of restrictions, coupled with the recent €17 million funding announced by the Irish government for the new Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme, is a timely one for Kilternan-based Outdoor Spaces, who cite an “urgent” demand from schools, offices, restaurants, sports clubs, and even private homeowners.
The company was set up by Denis O’Reilly, Maurice Byrne and Adam Rankin – three entrepreneurs who have had to furlough previous business activities because of the pandemic.
However, the trio saw a timely opportunity of providing solutions for schools, local authorities and hospitality providers who need to be able to conduct their business / activities in outdoor spaces due to Covid restrictions.
“We started out by installing outdoor spaces in DEIS and special needs schools,” says Denis O’Reilly, Director of Outdoor Spaces.
“All kids need to spend as much time as possible out in the fresh air and this is a way of providing that environment, while also adhering to strict Covid-19 restrictions.
“When you consider that the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has estimated that 0.1 percent of Covid-19 cases were contracted in outdoor situations, encouraging safe Covid-19 compliant outdoor interaction is the way to go as the economy starts to slowly open back up.”
Denis O’Reilly is already known for his work with DEIS schools in Dublin and elsewhere. Last year, he set up the successful Good Grub not-for-profit initiative, which raised more than half a million euro to distribute fresh fruit and vegetables to the families of disadvantaged schoolchildren.
“There is huge flexibility in how the spaces are used,” he said.
“So far, we have supplied more than 60 freestanding weather 7m x 5m canopies to schools where they are used as sheltering spaces for lunch, outdoor classrooms, science fairs, even choir practice.
“We are also working with restaurants, hotels, clubs, offices and even residential customers who need to optimise the potential of their outdoor areas,” O’Reilly added.
The company manufacture and install 7 x 5 m freestanding weather canopies with no groundworks required – most of which can be installed in less than a day.
They are the authorized partner for Ireland for Austrian-made Meissl bespoke Umbrella solutions.
With restrictions in place for a while yet, O’Reilly says companies need to “look at ways they can survive and thrive in the medium term”.
“For many organisations in hospitality, entertainment, the arts and other sectors, that means turning outdoor spaces into practical areas that can safely generate revenue,” Mr O’Reilly added.
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