In a rural development near the border, a coterie of workers that includes designers, makers and engineers are branching out into new spaces.
Whitewashed wonky walls of low-lying buildings line the road, signalling our arrival at Mullan in Co Monaghan. We’re here for the birthday celebrations of the rurally based but internationally focused lighting company, which was founded by Mike Traenor, then an unemployed architect, in 2009. The staff are fizzing for the party later, but first, they’re going to give us a tour around the 2,500-square-metre facility and hold our hands as a gaggle of journalists, designers and architects follow the Mullan process to assemble our own pendant.
The forward-thinking company combines Mike’s background in design, the family business in electrical supplies and business development manager Edel’s international experience with aplomb. Some 70 per cent of the Mullan business is overseas, with a list of well-known corporate clients, but it all seems a world away as we pull into the gates of the unassuming buildings.
Originally a Victorian linen mill, the building was powered by a mill that ran from Emyvale five miles away – then one of the longest mill races in Europe. When that industry declined, the facility became a factory, with Border Brand Shoe Factory employing 200 people making leather shoes until that closed in the 1970s. The buildings lay dormant for 25 years, until the Traenors started the renovation, which included 18 former workers’ houses.
Now privately owned, staff get first dibs on renting the sash-windowed cottages, as well as 13 new-builds, and some 68 of the 70 staff members reside in Monaghan. Edel says attracting talent to the rural company considers life outside the factory and its past. “People tend to get engrossed in Mullan’s history; it started as a workers’ village and it’s come full-circle where the staff now live and work here again. We find that people are attracted to the rural life and the advantages of Monaghan in terms of cost of living, short commute times and the work-life balance it creates.”
Breaking ground for a new purpose-built facility is about to begin, which Edel is visibly excited by. “We really love the facility that we’re in. It has a lot of character and a lot of history that you can’t get from a greenfield site. However, our production systems and general comfort will be drastically improved by this additional space.”
On the floor, each piece is hand-picked and hand-assembled from rows of parts and cables meticulously arranged across various outhouses and buildings. The vast majority of components start as raw brass, which is treated to antique patina effects, powder-coated with colours or polished up to a shine. Antique brass and powder-coated black remain most popular in Ireland, French orders are all “antique silver”, while Russian interest is in high-shine brass.
Parts come from Europe mostly with as much made on-site as possible, says Edel. “We would do a lot of the spinning ourselves in-house, with brass sheets coming from suppliers in Dublin, although the heavier, cast-brass components are done in Italy with a specialised furnace and casting process. The glass comes from suppliers in Greece and in Spain, who have special moulds for our designs.”
In the last couple of years, Mullan has been involved in a number of high-profile projects as diverse as the La Mer beachfront in Dubai and Legoland, but one closer to home remains Edel’s favourite. “Cafe En Seine [in Dublin] was definitely one of the most interesting ones that our guys got to work on in terms of the variety of design, and the complexity of the look they were going for. It was a very short turn-around time of six weeks and completely bespoke. We worked closely with Millimetre Design who came up with the concepts, and it is definitely something that we’re really, really proud of.”
Working with designers and architects is what seems to give the design team a real kick, and these collaborations start with a sketch, moodboard or a 3D drawing. The team haven’t worked a huge amount with non-industry folk directly. “We have worked on a small number of commissions directly with homeowners and it’s something we’re definitely open to. In these instances, it’s best to organise a meeting and sit down with the design team to come up with the concept instead of doing it by email.”
Currently, the Mullan team are developing a new furniture and accessories range. “We’re just waiting for the new factory in order to work on the designs,” says Edel “but the concepts and the prototyping and everything is moving forward. It’s something new and exciting to work on, and whether you work in manufacturing or marketing or in design, it’s always nice to be working on something fresh and new.”
PHOTOGRAPHY Al Higgins
ASSISTED BY Liadh Connolly
PUBLISHED Image Interiors & Living magazine, March/April 2020