ECA 125 YEARS
L-R: Alfie Watterson ECA NI Regional Manager, Richard Gilmore ECA NI Regional Chairman, Ruth Devine MBE, ECA National President, and Richard Harrison.
HELD AT THE CULLODEN ESTATE AND SPA ON APRIL 17, THE EVENT WELCOMED 120 MEMBERS, GUESTS AND SPONSORS INCLUDING ECA NATIONAL PRESIDENT RUTH DEVINE MBE… ECA 125th Anniversary Dinner
L-R: Kieran Sherwood, Hayley Atcheson, Garath Atcheson, Andrea Gillespie, Barry Gillespie, Zach Robinson, Jan Milligan, Chris Connor and Amy Connor, ICSS Ltd.
L-R: Robin Higgins, James Magwood, Michael Dowds, Garry Baxter, Neal Dodds, Adam Robinson, Richard Megarity, Cristian Briers, Chris Adams and Alan Pedlow, Irwin M&E.
Members of the Northern Ireland branch of the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) joined guests and sponsors at a 125th Anniversary Dinner in the Culloden Estate and Spa on April 17. Organised by Ireland’s Electrical Magazine and hosted by TV sports presenter Adrian Logan, the evening was attended by 120 guests and included a drinks reception, dinner and night at the casino tables. ECA NI Chairman Richard Gilmour from NUGENT welcomed National President Ruth Devine MBE from the association’s head office in London, ECA Ireland Vice President Eamon Thornton and ETT Chief Executive Charlotte Bamber. The evening was one of celebration with apprentices highlighted as the future of the industry. Ewan Forsythe, Apprentice of the Year at Ireland’s Electrical Awards 2025 and a finalist at ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year 2025, was recognised with a bursary presented by the national president. More than £2,000 was also raised for the Alzheimer’s Society, supporting its important work across Northern Ireland. Sponsors included CEF, Crane,
Edmundson Electrical, G4S, Ireland’s Electrical Magazine, Knightsbridge, Malone Lighting, Solutions and Whitecroft Lighting. Local ECA contractors now contribute up to 70% of contract value in Northern Ireland, said the ECA NI chairman, outlining the top challenges facing the sector as procurement and payment issues. Welcoming the return of employer-led apprenticeships, he congratulated ETT on its successful tender to train apprentices at its training facility in Galgorm, with 12 started in January and another 12 to follow in September 2026. “As we celebrate the 125th anniversary, we acknowledge that the future of our industry is with the apprentices of today,” said Richard. “We have always had quality apprentices who have been recognised throughout the UK.”
L-R: Phillip Martin, Colum Sheppard, Caoimhe Mulgrew, Sam Rock, Adam Dodds, Ross Coleman, Ewan Forsythe, Richard Gilmore, Declan Magee, Marc Nugent, Terry McAllister, Anthony Martin, Paula Doherty and Donna Vance, NUGENT.
L-R: Andy Aitken, WSM Belfast, Andy Oldcroft, Daniel McCord, WSM Ballymena, Jake Keyworth, Patrick Doyle, WSM Ballymena, Alan Hughes and Neal Glassey, Electrical Equipment Company, David Irwin, Edmundson Portadown, and Ian Dornan, EEL Greentech.
Want to know more?
ECA Northern Ireland Regional Office: T: +44 (0)28 9147 9527 E: alfie.watterson@eca.co.uk www.eca.co.uk
L-R: Stuart Nelson, NICEIC, with William McNally, Jack McGregor, John Carlile, Robert English, Matty Neil, Stuart Russell, James Beattie and Oswald Gordon, G4S.
24 | IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE
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