Timeline | John Sisk and Son

1837

Founder - John Sisk is born on 30th September 1837. From the age of 11 he learned the trade from quaker plasterer Richard Martin.

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1845

Start of the Great Famine during which John’s father died.
1859

John Sisk establishes his business in 1859, the same year he married Kate Burke.
1868

John Valentine Sisk is born. Although three of the bothers also work for the company, it was John V who later goes into partnership with his father and is left the company after his death.
1884

Founding of the GAA - more than 100 years later Sisk re-build Croke Park.
1912

Ancestor of AIB Munster & Leinster Bank Cork. Designed by Arthur Hill, the Munster and Leinster Bank on South Mall in Cork is symbolic of the Banking sector in the early 20th Century.
1914

World War 1 breaks out.
1916

Relocation of Cork Premises. The business grows and moves to Capwell Works at Douglas St. Cork. Eventually the office moves to a site on the Kinsale Road in 1966.
1921

Irish Civil War.
1929

The Wall Street Crash in America. Shares lose their value.
1931

John Gerard Sisk joins the company after receiving a degree in Engineering in UCC.
1935

Cork City Hall, landmark project.
1937

Sisk sets up Stone Developments to ensure a secure and good quality stone supply to the firm.
1938

The move to Dublin - John G heads to Dublin to attempt opening up the Dublin market.
1946

Creation of the Sisk Logo Reynolds Stone (1909 – 1979) was one of Britain’s leading designers. In 1946, Mr. John Sisk commissioned Mr. Stone to produce a design suitable for use on stationery, site hoardings and on plant.
1948

First £1m contract – Galway Sanatorium.
1950

In Ireland, there are very few jobs, many people have to emigrate to find work.
1953

Edmund Hillary and Norkey Tenzing become the first people to climb Mount Everest.
1954

Sisk is appointed distributor of Bosch powertools in Ireland.
1957

Sisk go to Africa. The first satellite Sputnik 1 is launched by the Soviet Union.
1963

President Kennedy is shot and killed while visiting Dallas.
1964

Sisk move to Naas Road.
1965

Sisk finishes work on Ireland’s tallest building, Liberty Hall.
1966

George H Sisk became the fourth generation to join and eventually lead the business.
1969

Neil Armstrong takes his historic first steps on the moon.
1973

Ireland joins the Common Market (European Union).
1978

Sisk builds the Central Bank in Dublin.
1979

The Pope’s visit. John Sisk & Son Ltd were honoured in 1979 to be awarded the contract to erect the Papal Cross and the altar in the Phoenix Park.
1984

The firm decided to establish a building company in the UK due to a tough economic period.
1985

Famine in Ethiopia. Bob Geldof organises Live Aid which helps to raise large amounts of money for famine relief.
1989

Again with economic difficulties in Ireland John Sisk & Son headed for Germany, after the Berlin Wall comes down.
1993

The company re-entered the Civil Engineering marketplace at a time when Ireland started to prosper and the government focused on improving the Country’s infrastructure with a series of National Development Plans.
2000

Sisk consolidates its property development division under the name of Korine. The SISK Group have been involved in buying and developing property for 67 years.
2002

EURO notes and coins were introduced.
2006

SISK Healthcare is established – it acquires M.E.D. Surgical and Cardiac Services.
2007

SISK Healthcare expands with the acquisition of Tekno Surgical, Synapse Medical and Beaver Medical.
2010

SISK Group acquires ESCHMANN est. 1830 – manufacturers and designers of medical equipment and products.
2010

John Sisk & Son proudly hand over the new 50,000 seater AVIVA Stadium. First civils contracts in UK and Poland. First projects in UAE.