Q & A with Darac O’Neill Managing Director at O’Neill & Co Chartered Surveyors & Auctioneers Ltd

O’Neill & Co is a niche, independent practice of Chartered Surveyors with extensive experience in the valuation and appraisal of commercial, residential, agricultural and development land and property. We are delighted to have them continue their support here at Naas again this Wednesday sponsoring the O'Neill & Co Chartered Surveyors & Auctioneers Apprentice Handicap. We caught up with Darac O'Neill Managing Director ahead of the sponsorship. 

1. Tell us about O’Neill & Co Chartered Surveyors & Auctioneers?

O’Neill & Co is an independent practice of Chartered Surveyors & Auctioneers with extensive experience in the valuation and appraisal of commercial, residential, agricultural and development land and property.

Since 2009, our specialist teams have built up in-depth knowledge of the commercial property market in Ireland at a local, regional and national level.

We provide sales, lettings and professional advice in real estate and land. We offer professional services in the areas of: Sales & Lettings, Valuations, Lease Advisory, Property Management, Commercial Rates, Property Sourcing, and Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs).

Our vastly experienced team works with landlords, owner-occupiers and tenants of retail property, industrial property, office property and residential property.

2. The past year and a half has been a challenging one to say the least, tell us how life has been for you and your team?

It has been a challenging period for us all, but we’re lucky to have a fantastic team here at O’Neill & Co. Having worked closely together for many years we’re all on the same wavelength, and our client-focus has remained a priority for us all throughout the pandemic. Most of our team have been working remotely which certainly poses some challenges to day-to-day business tasks, but we’re a resilient lot and we’ve managed to adapt.

3. Have you always had an interest in horse racing?

Yes, I was brought up on a farm with horses, so a love of horses and racing was instilled at an early age.

4. As a horse breeder, if you had a free nomination to any stallion in the world, who would you choose?
Sea The Stars.

5. This will be O’Neill & Co’s fourth year sponsoring at Naas Racecourse, what do you enjoy most about attending and sponsoring at Naas Racecourse?
It’s great to be in a position to support other local businesses; Naas Racecourse is about a 3-minute drive from our office on the Dublin Road. Horses feature strongly in my life, from breeding horses, and racing horses, to providing property services to those in the equine field, so sponsoring a race at a local racecourse is a good fit for our business. Whenever possible, our team enjoy a day out at the races together, enjoying the beautiful surroundings at Naas Racecourse and the electric atmosphere on the day. We celebrated our 10-year anniversary there in 2009 and it was a fantastic event, one which the team still talk about to this day!

6. Give us your best piece of business or life advice?

The art of good business is being a good middle man.

7. Your favourite race meeting to attend? 

Well apart from Naas of course!!! Royal Ascot. 

8. Aims for O’Neill & Co over the next few years?

We have spent the last 12 years establishing ourselves as commercial property experts in Kildare and the surrounding areas, working with a wide range of clients across a variety of industries. We will continue to service those clients into the future, while expanding our reach further into neighbouring counties in Leinster.