President of the IRL Group brings his love for construction and pubs with great Irish craic to Vancouver

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      (This story is sponsored by the .)

      William Donnellan always believed that he would achieve success if he followed his passions and put in the hard work—he knew great accomplishments were never by accident.

      In 2009, Donnellan and his girlfriend, Laura, planned to leave their home in Galway, Ireland, for a six-month trip to Vancouver with the goal of exploring a new place. The two quickly fell in love with the city and the opportunities it offered. 

      Fast-forward 14 years later—William and Laura are married and are about to welcome their third child together. They’re also both permanent residents of Canada.

      But before moving to B.C. many years ago, Donnellan owned a pub in Galway, a business venture that was inspired by his family’s background in hospitality. While he was incredibly happy to be living in Vancouver, he recognized the demand for skilled construction workers and the tragic lack of authentic, Irish pubs.

      After leaving his pub in Ireland, he really had no intentions of re-entering the high-stress restaurant industry and instead, hoped to focus on construction. Donnellan was a journeyman carpenter and despite trying to leave it behind, he had a knack for opening Irish pubs. This led him to open up his own construction and hospitality business, the .

      The couple founded the company in 2011 and has since built a hardworking, loyal team of construction professionals, along with three Irish pubs in Vancouver. Their first hospitality venture can be found on Granville Street— has an old-world vibe, serves Irish comfort food, and often features live music. Soon after, the IRL Group acquired in English Bay and most recently, in Gastown. 

      Sunday night music in Shamrock
      IRL Group

      To Donnellan, opening a pub is much more than finding a space and giving it a catchy name.

      “Because we’re from Ireland, it’s important that we bring that same Irish experience to people in Vancouver,” he shares. “When visiting one of our pubs, you can expect delicious food, the best Guinness you’ll find in the city, and great craic—in Ireland, that’s a term we use for having fun in a pub setting.”

      In addition to its hospitality undertakings, the IRL Group’s tackles commercial and residential projects, both locally and around the province.

      Recently, the IRL Group teamed up with North America Construction (NAC) to construct a wastewater treatment plant in Victoria, which provides the community with clean water. The construction team has also worked on major projects in Haida Gwaii, off B.C.’s west coast, and Baffin Island in Nunavut.

      Since the company’s inception in 2011, it has made a notable impact in Vancouver—volunteering and donating to charities is important to everyone at the IRL Group. Several local sports teams and the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, among other organizations, are on the receiving end of the team’s community-minded efforts.

      When asked about the IRL Group’s name, Donnellan shares that it stands for integrity, reliability, and loyalty. I am a big believer that the best way to lead is by example and these values are really significant to the IRL family. Everyone who works at the company is part of the family and they are greatly appreciated.”

      IRL Construction being handed the 2022 ICBA Gord Stewart Workplace Health and Safety Innovation Award
      IRL Group

      Donnellan also mentions that the unwavering loyalty and support from their team and customers is what helped their pubs survive the pandemic. After two years of uncertainty and limited restaurant operations, the IRL Group is excited to announce that it will soon be opening another location in Kitsilano.

      “It’s going to be called Hynes’ Bar and Kitchen and it will hopefully be ready this summer,” reveals Donnellan. “Like all of our locations, its name is very sentimental to us. My wife’s grandmother, whose family was also in the pub business, passed away a few months ago and her maiden name was ‘Hynes’. Every pub that we own means a lot to us, and our customers can feel just how much we believe in what we’re doing.”

      Folks can also expect Hynes’ Bar and Kitchen to serve some of the same beloved traditional Irish grub found at the other three establishments. Menus feature Soda Bread, Beef and Guinness Stew, beer-battered Fish and Chips, Bangers & Mash, Black and White Pudding, Bacon & Cabbage, and Potato Nachos.

      Upon entering one of the pubs owned by the IRL Group, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to Ireland. Each pub boasts a welcoming atmosphere, Guinness on draft, toe-tapping tunes, and friendly staff.

      “I tell my team that if you get up every day and do the very best that you can, you’ll have no regrets,” says Donnellan. “I’m a carpenter, I never went to university, but you can still achieve success through hard work and doing what you love.”

      The IRL Group is currently hiring for hospitality and construction roles. To apply,

      For more information, visit