What happens when a family-owned GSE manufacturer pairs engineering pride with a clear purpose? We head to Noonan, Georgia to talk with Malahan about a journey that started with A0 drawings and a dream, grew into two factories serving 40+ countries a year, and now fuels a 200-plus golfer charity tournament—the Shamrock Classic—raising funds for mental health and suicide prevention.
We swap stories about the founder’s late-night sketches and the long-tenured team who still carry his spirit onto the shop floor. Then we pull back the curtain on how the company scaled without losing its people-first culture: an internal app that shows where machines ship, highlights visitors, and invites families to events; a North American facility that keeps service close and relationships closer; and a product portfolio that spans de-icers, belt loaders, PRM lifts, high lifts, catering trucks, and more.
From there, we step onto the tee box. The Shamrock Classic brings airlines, ground handlers, OEMs, leasing partners, and even competitors to White Oak for a shotgun start across two courses. It’s open, welcoming, and transparent about impact. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention joins three local Noonan partners, all collaborating to direct funds where they’re needed most. Between the welcome night’s axe throwing and simulator swings, the drone footage, and, yes, the famous chicken biscuits, the day stays light while the cause stays front and center.
Curious how to play, sponsor, or volunteer next year? Reach out via the Shamrock Classic email and follow Malahan on LinkedIn for save-the-dates. If today’s conversation moves you, subscribe, share the show with a colleague, and leave a quick review—your support helps more industry pros find stories that connect craft, community, and real-world change.
Looking for dependable and on demand ground support equipment leasing? Fortbrand is your go to partner. We specialize in tailored operating leases for airlines, cargo carriers, and ground handlers, delivering top tier equipment without the wait. From the latest electric GSE to traditional units, Fortbrand offers flexible terms, competitive rates, and a customer experience that is second to none. Keep your ramp moving with confidence. Visit fortbrand.com and experience GSE leasing redefined.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Matt Weitzel (00:00):
This episode of the GSE Podcast is brought to
you by Fort Brand, not youreveryday GSE provider.
We go beyond belt loaders andbag tractors, offering tow
barless pushbacks, de-icers, andairport maintenance equipment,
all available on demand acrossNorth America and the UK.
(00:22):
Whether you need electric unitsto support your ESG goals or
traditional equipment fortoday's ramp, Fort Brand
delivers flexible leasing withthe option of full service
maintenance to keep your fleetat peak performance.
When you partner with FortBrand, you get more than
equipment.
You get expertise, reliability,and a commitment to keeping
(00:43):
your operation running smoothly.
Visit Fortbrand.com to learnmore.
This is Christian Eisner.
This is Kyle Brunner.
This is Calder War.
This is Ronan Malahan, and youare listening to the GSE
podcast.
All right.
(01:05):
Well, welcome to the GSEPodcast.
I am here at Mallaghan Newnan,Georgia.
And I am with a couple ofspecial folks here.
I am with Laura McGrath.
And did I say it wrong?
Laura McGrath (01:22):
Nope.
Perfect.
Matt Weitzel (01:22):
Oh, I thought you were about to say, oh, you said
that wrong.
Okay.
In Niall Mallaghan.
And uh this is Niles' firsttime on the podcast.
Laura, is this your first timeon the podcast?
Laura McGrath (01:35):
First official podcast with yourself, Matt.
I really got the honor to dothe intro one year at GHI
America's.
Oh, yeah.
Matt Weitzel (01:41):
And I've been and then you were in the room for
the first women of GSE podcast,but you did not participate.
Laura McGrath (01:50):
No, I shadowed it, and Karla and Abbie were
fantastic.
So I was just waiting for theday I got the call-up.
Matt Weitzel (01:56):
So has it been a huge regret in your life that
you didn't get to join that day?
Laura McGrath (02:00):
Yes.
Yeah.
Been thinking about it eversince.
Every day, since every daysince.
So this is an honor and aprivilege.
Matt Weitzel (02:07):
Well, you know, we're just we're just glad
you're here, you're here.
And Niles, this is your firsttime on the podcast.
Thank you so much for forjoining us.
We're we're huge fans ofMalahan, and we have been a
sponsor of the event that we'regoing to talk about for a number
of years today.
So, but Niall, what I'd like tostart with you on is kind of
(02:27):
the history of Malahan.
So I've I've interviewed, Iinterviewed John Cameron and Joe
Griffith, but we didn't reallyget into the history.
And if we did, it was likeepisode five or something.
So maybe people haven'tlistened back that far.
So why don't you give us thehistory of Malahan?
Hi Matt.
Thanks.
Niall Mallaghan (02:45):
Uh thanks a million for that introduction
and for visiting us here inNoonan, our USA facility.
No, Mallaghan Engineeringstarted manufacturing ground
support equipment in 1990.
Prior to that, the company wasfounded by my father, a civil
engineering company.
But he diversified intomechanical engineering because
that was always his dream toproduce something that he would
(03:07):
be proud of.
And so we started in 1990,started servicing local airports
such as Belfast.
Then slowly but surely in theearly 90s, we went across to the
UK, Newcastle, Birmingham,Edinburgh, you know, just a few
airports in the UK.
Our product range at the startwas baggage loading machine, and
that quickly developed intothen PRM medical lifts.
(03:30):
And to this day, we stillmanufacture then PRM medical
lifts and dispatch themworldwide from our Dungyan
Ireland facility.
So in the early 90s, thecompany was still small because
it was a brand new company.
But my father was a greatengineer, a great thinker.
These days was a little bitdifferent till today's
Mallaghan, in that a lot of thedrawings were not done on 3D
(03:52):
solid works.
There wasn't an abundance ofengineers or a purchasing team,
that type of roles.
But it was mechanical drawingsdone on A0 pages and cutting and
welding steel, putting ittogether and painting it and
dispatching it all at the sametime.
Not in the numbers that we dotoday, but it was a great
foundation.
Really, really good andexciting days.
(04:13):
Myself, my brother Ronan, wetook the company over from my
dad in 2003.
He never really retired.
But unfortunately, we lost himin 2008.
And it was at 70 years old, itwas just he was too young.
But anyways, I think he'd bevery proud of where the company
has grown to nowadays, of theproduct range.
I'd be very proud of thecountries that we sell equipment
(04:36):
to.
And the memory and the and thelivelihood of my father lives on
in the factory every day,anyway, because he's always
talked about, you know, a lot ofthe staff at Mallaghan have
been there 25, 27, 30 yearssince the very start.
They all knew him, knew himvery, very well.
So his memory and and and andhis his legacy lives on to this
day.
Matt Weitzel (04:55):
Do you think that he envisioned you all going
worldwide with this company?
Oh, of course he did.
Niall Mallaghan (05:02):
But it's a case of his family.
He was born in a rural part ofIreland in County Tyrone.
And it was it, you know, it wasa farming tradition.
You had to be entrepreneurialaround the farm.
You know, the houses in thename days might not have
electric or didn't have a car ordidn't have a tractor.
You know, so you had to be youhad to be entrepreneurial.
If you're going to build ahouse, you had to make your own
(05:23):
blocks, that type of thing.
So that's what got him startedand kept him looking forward.
But he always he always lovedthe excitement of working with
steel.
I guess through the years, byhis with his guidance and with
his intuition, he was able to, agreat thinker.
At nighttime, if he woke upwith an idea, he would scribble
it down on a page so that hewouldn't forget for the next
morning.
(05:43):
So at night time he would dohis designs as well.
And even on a Saturday orSunday, if he came up with a new
door method for locking a dooror for opening a bonnet on a on
a on a on a piece of GSE, hewould have maybe went to the
workshop and started working onit there in the end.
He wouldn't wait for Mondaybecause of the excitement that
he had inside himself.
So through the years, ourproduct range has uh it has
(06:06):
grown.
We've got five main productlines, I guess, now de-icers,
belt conveyors, high lifts, highlifts covers, catering trucks,
PRM lifts, and cabin cleaningtrucks.
We also have uh toilet andmotor trucks, pack stairs, and
uh in any typical year we'llexport to more than 40 different
countries.
Now, if you take North Americahere, we count that as one
(06:27):
country, but there could be 40different airports within North
America alone.
So our how the company growgrew over the years is we
extended our product range tothem, that five portfolio that I
mentioned.
We expanded our marketplacewhere where we were selling the
equipment, so both went hand inhand.
As I say, in any typical yearwe'll export to more than 40
different countries, and in ourshort history, because we're
(06:49):
only formed in 1990, so in ourshort history, we've exp we
dispatched and um uh soldequipment to more than 100
different countries.
That's incredible.
Matt Weitzel (06:59):
Are you still in the original you know,
manufacturing facility that youall had?
Have you all just expanded thatout, or did you have to move in
to a new facility because it ityou all got so big?
Niall Mallaghan (07:09):
Yeah, it's a very good question, actually.
The original factory is whereour head office is, but in the
next uh part of the industrialestate, the next factory across
was a factory that manufacturedcrystal.
When I say crystal,chandeliers, ashtrays, wine
glasses, it was called TyroneCrystal, and it was very famous.
But in 2008, crystal became athing that wasn't really popular
(07:31):
for, I guess, wedding gifts andthat type of thing anymore.
But my father used to stand atair factory and look across and
go, Imagine our factory was asbig as that one next door.
And I wish he had theopportunity to see us now
because we actually own thatfactory as well.
And in in Dunganon, both areinside the same perimeter fence
now.
So we've we've got two bigfactories on the one side.
(07:52):
So one's called fabrication,that's where we cut, weld,
paint, the other one's assembly,that's where we screw
everything together, PDI it anddispatch it.
And how many employees do youall have in those facilities?
Oh Matt, good question.
Also, uh in Dunganon it'saround 500 or just a few more
than 500 for sure.
Wow.
And here in Noonan it's morethan 100 staff.
Matt Weitzel (08:12):
So you all employ a lot of people, I imagine, in
your in your town over there.
Niall Mallaghan (08:16):
Yeah, and and uh in Malahan, call it Team
Malahan because everybody istreated with the same respect.
And you know, we've quite corevalues, and one of them is
people.
So we treat people the way welike get treated ourselves.
So we talk about Team Malahan,and yes, it's fantastic to walk
into the local shops and seesomebody with a Malahan fleece
(08:36):
or a Malah t-shirt on, and theyalways say hello to you, and you
have a joyful conversation, andmaybe you vice versa.
We introduce each other to ourkids or to our wife or to our
partners, and uh it's a greatfeeling because it's a small
community.
Dungan's a town of probablyaround 35,000, 40,000 people,
and a lot of people know a lotof people, so yeah, there's a
(08:57):
great sense of pride, but notonly that, there's a great sense
of pride within our staffbecause they'll often come in.
Well, you're watching such aprogram on television last
night.
No, I missed it by whathappened.
There was a set of passengerstairs on it, so there was and
there was somebody famouswalking on them, like a soccer
team or uh royalty from acountry visiting or whatever.
And it could even be from uhAustralian TV or TV from Dubai
(09:21):
or TV from North America wherethey said, Did you see that on
the news last night?
There was a there was a Malahcatering truck and a Malah and
thecer on the television.
It was brilliant, you know.
So yeah, it's team Malah, andthere's a great spirit with the
people, yeah.
Laura McGrath (09:33):
Strong passion for sure.
You know, when you're talkingthere, it is.
It's a it's a passion when whenyou work.
And it's probably you knowyourself, Matt, but the GSE
industry, there's passionthroughout, whether what
whatever role you play, you youfeel important in the company,
and and definitely in our localarea, there is definitely that
team Malahon.
And you're you're proud ofwhere you where you work and you
(09:53):
know you will, you'll wear youryour Malahan badge or or or
whatever it may be outside ofwork hours.
Niall Mallaghan (09:59):
So it it's a nice Yeah, it I find in the
aviation, Lord, I agree with you101%.
There is you get this feelingwhen you've got little small
airplanes running around in yourblood veins that uh you never
want to leave the industry onceyou get into it, do you?
Laura McGrath (10:11):
Yeah.
And the family-owned aspect isa big thing too.
There's not many in the GSCindustry that are probably as
still family ran as Malahan.
So it's uh it definitely doescreate even with our commercial
team, or whether it's sales andservice or or marketing with
myself, we're all like one bigfamily, which can be good and
(10:32):
bad, but it uh it definitely hasthat real family feel, which
which is what drew me in.
Niall Mallaghan (10:38):
Another thing that Laura has created in
Malahan a couple of years agowas an internal app.
So if you're an employee, bothhere in Noonan or in the
Dungalin facility, if you'repart of Team Malahan, you have
full access to the app.
The app promotes you knowdifferent jobs is available at
the time, but it also goes intoputting on pictures of machines
delivered to customers.
(10:58):
So it lets the people knowwhere the equipment's going, it
lets them know uh what thefunction of it is on the
airport.
So they're not just they're notjust a designer or or a welder
or a PDI expert or an engineer.
It comes in today and goestomorrow.
They can see and they can sharephotographs and it gives them a
great sense of pride.
There's lots of lots of otherthings, you know.
(11:20):
When when we have visitors, weput on photographs so people
know who they are.
And you know, we we share a lotof information internally on
it, and it's a great, it's agreat method of communication.
We also have prize draws on itand the inclusivity, you know,
like Halloween's not far awayfrom us now as we as as we sit
here today.
And like uh Laura and the teamand the social committee,
they've organized for afireworks display, and that's
(11:42):
for all the families to bringtheir kids and the grandkids and
whatever, all down to thefactory.
And then there'll be facepainting competitions and who's
dressed up the best, fancydress, gets a prize, etc.
etc.
So there's lots of lots of goodstuff like that in Team Malahan
throughout the year, differentevents through the year.
But that's the next one thatLaura and our team have
organized.
God, Team Mallahan soundsawesome.
Laura McGrath (12:03):
Can we persuade you, Matt?
Matt Weitzel (12:05):
I know, right?
Uh so Laura, how did you getyour start at Mallahan?
Laura McGrath (12:09):
Yeah, well, to be totally honest, I had drove
past the factory kind of on mytravels every day.
I live about 10 minutes fromthe factory and never knew
exactly what they did.
I remember seeing stairs or wasthe bus.
So when I graduated, I thoughtI'll look locally first for a
company that maybe had amarketing or a sales position at
(12:30):
graduate level.
And that's exactly what I done.
I saw Malahan was hiring.
And part of me thought I'll gofor an interview, but I won't be
able to work in engineering andmanufacturing.
I don't have a clue what goeson behind the production line.
But I went for my interview.
I actually met with OwenMcKenna, who's very well known
in the industry as well.
And it just sparked aninterest.
(12:53):
I wanted to know more.
I wanted to know what was goingon 10 minutes down the road
from where I grew up.
So I got a second interview anddecided that was the role for
me.
So joined about three and ahalf, in three and a half years
ago.
It's been nothing but crazyfun, excitement, learning and
growth ever since, to be totallyhonest.
(13:14):
I'm glad he took the risk andkind of didn't listen to the
voices in your head that tellyou, you know, maybe
engineering's not for you, oryou don't know what GS GSE is,
so don't don't do it.
But I'm I've I've never lookedback yet, touch wood.
So that that's kind of a longstory cut short for for my start
at Malahan.
Matt Weitzel (13:33):
Well, as a fellow marketer, I will say that you do
a fantastic job in marketingthe Malahan brand.
Laura McGrath (13:39):
Back at you, Matt.
Back at you.
Matt Weitzel (13:41):
So so very much appreciated.
And then we were kind oftalking a little bit before we
started, and I think Niles, youwere saying that you, you know,
Malahan's always been involvedin in charities and so forth.
So what kind of brought thisthis golf, the Shamrock series
to life?
Niall Mallaghan (14:00):
We as a company let the staff guide us and
choose what charities that themoney's contributed to or raised
for.
We r run several fundraisingyou know events through the
year.
And this golf charity, it'sjust very similar to what we do,
one of our charities chosenback in Northern Ireland as
well.
And it's for mental awareness,and it's such a big problem
(14:20):
around the world now where it'sgreat for people to have a
facility or a place or a contactto go to to be able to speak
about these issues if and whenneeded.
And the modern day world needsthat facility, and that's why we
support that here in NorthAmerica and is one of our chosen
charities back home in in NorthIreland as well.
Matt Weitzel (14:40):
So, Laura, can you kind of give our listeners an
overview of of what the Shamrockseries is, who participates,
who it's open to, and and thenwhere all that money goes.
So it kind of gives us a goodoverview of this thing.
Laura McGrath (14:56):
Yeah.
Well, like I said, we were justtalking about when I started.
So the year I started wasactually the first year of the
Shamrock Classic.
And I'm so thrilled that I'vebeen able to be through the
journey since.
We're on our fourth year andit's just grown to something we
never thought it would.
We started in 2022, a smallenough group of golfers, but
some great faces in theindustry, some good local
(15:17):
companies.
And really it stemmed from,like Nail said, that that
support that's needed for mentalhealth and suicide prevention,
both whether you're in NorthernIreland or North America, we we
want to support it as a company.
It's something very close toour hearts.
And whether it's colleagues orpartners, you know, we want we
want to ensure that the fundingthat we that we create in
(15:39):
Malahan is going to thosecauses.
So to give a bit of anoverview, we work with four
charities.
We have a national charity,which is the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention.
And then we focused after ourfirst year, we said, let's get
stuck into the community inNoonan.
And who in Noonan needs ourfunding?
And who will our employees goto if they needed mental health
(16:01):
support or assistance?
So we found four.
Well, we found three incrediblecharities, Fred Edges, Hunter
Scarborough, and the Bird House.
And we connected with thesecharities.
We wanted to get to know thembefore we just ticked a box and
agreed to sign them on for ourcharity for the golf.
And as soon as we met them, weactually got them all in a room
(16:22):
in Noonan and we discussed whatthey provide for the community.
And what we found it wasincredible because the charities
were all bouncing off eachother and you know, discussing
how if if someone came to them,they could then divert them to
this charity, or we can all worktogether for an end goal.
So we just knew it was it wasright.
Myself and Joe met with themand then led into the second
(16:44):
annual, which seems like alifetime ago now.
But look, every year the fundsgo up, the attendees go up.
We have golfers that are partof Team Malahan, we have
industry ground handlers, wehave leasing companies,
manufacturers, batterycompanies, uh, everything from A
to Z or Z in America.
(17:04):
They want to be part of it, youknow, competitors, customers,
everything.
It's open, it's it's we don'tclose it off to anyone.
You know, it's not corporate,it's not the GSE Expo, it's
something close to Malahan'sheart that we want to grow.
So if you are free to attend,you are you are welcome to.
And any penny or cent that wemake is so, so appreciated.
(17:27):
So where we've where we aresitting now in the fourth year,
and we're gonna wake up tomorrowand play some golf and raise
some money.
And it's a very wholesome,wholesome weekend.
And I'm just honored that I getto be a part of the planning
and the attendance at it.
Matt Weitzel (17:45):
Yeah.
So what so first of all, let mesay I that my first year was
last year, and I know.
Can you believe it?
You were there.
Yeah, so a lot of the team werewere able to make it.
I think it was what, you know,two years ago or whatever.
Yeah.
But I was I was unable.
I had something else come up.
I think my son was in some kindof performance or something
like that.
If you can believe that myson's a performer, but so
anyway, so I missed that one.
(18:06):
But I went last year and it wasjust so much fun.
Everybody's just having, youknow, the time of their life.
Of course, Malahan people arefun.
I mean, we can say that, right,and I think everybody would
agree.
So we had a great time.
And last year we we have akickoff event, right?
On the on the Thursday beforethe the Friday morning.
So tell our listeners a littlebit about what we will be doing
tonight.
Laura McGrath (18:27):
Yeah.
So we like to welcome everyoneinto Noonan.
You know, throughout today,there's been a lot of factory
visits.
Maybe new or old customers wantto connect with with our team
members.
So they'll come to the factoryduring the day, and then tonight
kicks off a welcome event.
And that's kind of gonna have abit of food and drinks, a lot
of kind of networking, mixingand mingling.
(18:47):
And then outside, so we do itat a local bar, Art and Jake's,
and it's it's right by thehotels, which is great for our
out-of-towners.
And we'll do a little bit ofaxe throwing.
We have a golf stimulator toget everyone's swing kind of
warmed up for the shotguntomorrow.
So it's always nice to geteveryone into Noonan.
And it there is that sense ofcommunity on the Thursday night
(19:08):
because we're all together.
We maybe haven't seen eachother in a while.
Some of us are reconnectingfrom Vegas a couple of weeks
ago.
So it's nice to always networkin the industry, meet new
people, but also, you know, sayhi to the to the day one, day
one sponsors that have beenthere since 2022.
Matt Weitzel (19:26):
So is it still growing as far as sponsors and
things like that and customersand vendors and everything else?
Laura McGrath (19:31):
Totally, Matt.
To be honest, this is ourbiggest year.
And I think myself and Joe andall of us at Mullihan are
overwhelmed by the support andnow by people reaching out
wanting to do something to help.
Whereas the first couple ofyears, it was a lot of
campaigning.
It was a lot of me probablytorturing people via email to
get on board.
But I think once once you hearabout it and the way it's spoke
(19:54):
about after is so wholesome aswell because you do feel like
you're doing good for thecommunity.
But also people, like you said,they have fun.
You know, we joke that itmightn't be the golf tournament
for all golfers because noteveryone is, you know, Roy
McElroy or anything like that.
But it is definitely an eventthat was fun.
(20:15):
There's I've never really seenanyone on the course not smiling
and laughing.
And the the videos pro provedthat last year where we invested
some of the the money into avideo and photographer, and it
paid off because the the contentwas so well, because you got a
video of me in my golf swing.
Matt Weitzel (20:33):
I think that's the reason it paid off.
Laura McGrath (20:34):
I knew that was coming.
Matt Weitzel (20:35):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So uh yeah, I was I was proudlyfeatured in the promo.
So I mean, I don't like tobrag.
Laura McGrath (20:42):
Just watch out for the drone this year, Matt.
Niall Mallaghan (20:44):
Are are we gonna have a drone?
Laura McGrath (20:45):
We're gonna have a drone.
Niall Mallaghan (20:46):
No, Laura's been very, very modest.
They're uh the truth of it isthere's more than 200 golfers
turning up tomorrow.
That's fantastic.
That's that's a lot of lot ofpeople.
Oh, I thought you said it's alot of Jameson.
It's a lot of people taking alot of flights.
You know, we've got a fewpeople coming in from Canada, a
few people in from Europe, andmajority are North American
(21:07):
people.
So it's not like the RaiderCup, it's not Europe taking on
the USA.
You were gonna bring that up.
It it is.
Do you say Rory Michael Roythere once?
He's a real good golfer, isn'the?
He is.
Oh my god.
I'll I'll bring my inner RoryMcElroy out on the course
tomorrow.
Sorry, US listeners.
No, it's a there's more than200 people turning up tomorrow,
and all of it is is is a need ofcharity.
(21:27):
It's not fantastic, isn't it?
That's giving back.
That's everybody giving back,not just Melinda, that's
everybody giving back.
That's 100% right.
Laura McGrath (21:33):
Probably one thing just when we do mention
the charities, they're thepeople that show up tomorrow
morning and and they want to getinvolved with selling quarter
zips or handing out gift bags,giving people their drink
tickets and their water or theirbreakfast.
The charities show up everyyear because they see you know
the excitement in the tournamentand and that that positive that
(21:54):
positive atmosphere.
So, you know, they almost bebegging to help, which is also
great that we've now got thesepartnerships within the Noonan
community, the the greater NorthAmerica.
But that that's one thing Ialways, you know, take away from
it is the charities want to bethere.
You know, they take a day offwork and they'll they'll show up
for us.
Matt Weitzel (22:12):
So it's uh I think my favorite partnership is the
Chick-fil-A sponsorship.
Laura McGrath (22:17):
Yeah.
Matt Weitzel (22:18):
Because they provide chicken biscuits in the
morning.
And then after this, it's gonnago from like 200 to like 250
next year after they people hearthis.
I mean free chicken biscuits,you can't turn that off.
Laura McGrath (22:28):
I remember my first year.
It's my first time in Georgia.
First time having a Chick-fil-Awas at the Gulf, and the
chicken biscuit was the talk ofthe town.
To us, it's like a it's like ascone or scone scone.
So it's it it was a cultureshock for us, but it's safe to
say that I've had plenty since.
Matt Weitzel (22:46):
Yeah.
So are you are you guys a fanof the chicken biscuit?
Is that something that thattranscends?
I like it.
Okay.
Laura McGrath (22:52):
I like things you can't get at home.
So when I'm here, I do try tohit as many places and and and
try the Chick-fil-A or thechicken burger from Chick-fil-A.
Niall Mallaghan (23:02):
So it's and she always brings the other stuff
home, big bags of sweets.
Laura McGrath (23:07):
Jolly ranchers.
Jolly Ranchers.
Matt Weitzel (23:09):
The old stuff just look like you all don't have
the good candy over there.
Laura McGrath (23:13):
So I make a trip.
Matt Weitzel (23:14):
We have the ultra-processed candy.
Yep that's unbelievable.
Laura McGrath (23:17):
I think I have a couple of kg of Jolly Ranchers
to take home now on Monday.
Matt Weitzel (23:22):
So you can't get Jolly Ranchers?
Laura McGrath (23:24):
Not as accessible.
Maybe Amazon you can get some,but it's kind of a tradition
now.
If anyone goes to the Noonanfacility, they bring home.
Jolly Rancher.
Matt Weitzel (23:32):
That's the one thing that has to go.
I love it.
Laura McGrath (23:35):
So it's uh it's a culture that we've created and
it's it kind of sparks a jokehere and there, and you're
rushing to to Target in casethey don't have them at the
airport.
So it's a it's a it's a funnyone.
Matt Weitzel (23:47):
Well, thanks a lot for for telling me more about
the the Shamrock series and orclassic shamrock.
Laura McGrath (23:53):
The Shamrock Classic, fourth annual this
year.
Matt Weitzel (23:55):
Come on, Matt.
Yeah, I'm thinking Notre Dame.
That's a Shamrock series.
Sorry, Shamrock Classic.
Laura McGrath (24:00):
Shamrock Classic.
Matt Weitzel (24:02):
Yes.
So if people want to getinvolved next year, because
we're golfing tomorrow, sothey're a little bit late to the
game for this year, but if theywant to get involved next year,
what's the best way to do that?
Laura McGrath (24:12):
So yeah, we have a Shamrock Classic email, and
that's Shamrock Classic atMalahan Group.com.
That'll get you kind of anyinformation.
You can reach out as early asthe day after the tournament
this year.
Early January is when we reallystart promoting it again.
So typically myself and Joewill speak with the course
tomorrow when we're finished upand we'll actually book our
date.
Matt Weitzel (24:33):
Okay.
Laura McGrath (24:33):
We'll we'll send a follow-up probably next week
with a save the date for ourcurrent registration.
And then January, when theholidays are over and everyone
is getting their calendarsarranged for 2026, we'll we'll
get the promotion started.
So, you know, LinkedIn, we havea website.
Yeah, just kind of keep up todate with with the Malahan
socials.
Niall Mallaghan (24:53):
Yeah, just could connect with us through
the website if you don't have aan already contact in Malahan.
I'm sure a lot of peoplelistening will have a a contact
with some of the sales team orthe customer care team or
whatever.
But just reach out to anyoneand we'll all point it in the
right direction of Laura hereand Laura's team.
And we look forward to seeingevery every new face next year.
It's a few new faces tomorrowas well, Laura.
(25:14):
A lot of things.
More than 200 people.
Like that's that's that'sthat's a lot of golfers out on
the golf course.
Laura McGrath (25:19):
So I should say too, we we host it at White Oak
in Noonan, which again we'resupporting a local beautiful
golf course.
And they we this year and lastyear we have booked out two full
courses.
So it's really, it's reallysomething special.
So that we know the team atWhite Oak.
We were over there this morningsetting up, and everybody's
like, Yes, the Irish are back.
And are you gonna do the thewhiskey?
(25:39):
And the are you gonna do this?
So it's it's created a cultureeven with a with a very
prestigious golf course thatkind of lets us all in to have
fun and and and celebrate for agood cause.
So it's uh it's exciting.
I'm really looking forward totomorrow.
Matt Weitzel (25:55):
Yeah, and there'll be other OEMs there tomorrow as
well.
So this is open to everybody.
And we you have airlines,you've got ground handlers, you
got other OEMs.
So people, if they want to getinvolved, should reach out.
Laura McGrath (26:07):
Yeah.
Yep.
There's no barriers, like Isaid, it's just for charity.
And, you know, if if you end upnetworking and meeting a
connection, that's alsofantastic.
You know, we've met, I've metso many people through the Gulf
that maybe I wouldn't have metat a trade show.
And I find that interesting,that it does bring a totally
different sense to the to theindustry that kind of takes
takes away the conferences andthe and the the kind of monthly
(26:30):
things that we we get up to as acommercial team.
So yep, no barriers at all,Matt.
We we might even let you backnext year.
Matt Weitzel (26:36):
No, I I would appreciate that.
So so after this, are you justgonna go take like the longest
nap ever because you've justgone right from the expo to
this?
Yeah, are you are you you'vegot to be exhausted.
Laura McGrath (26:47):
Thinking about it.
I fly home Monday back toIreland, I'll arrive Tuesday.
So that'll be me just over fiveweeks out of out of Ireland.
So it uh like I said, Iwouldn't do it if I if I didn't
love it.
So it's all so worth it, theteam we have in Malahan.
You know, today we were runningaround, whether you're a
service engineer or salesman,you know, purchasing everyone in
(27:08):
Noonan here is is running aboutto help make this possible.
So I do the the behind thescenes, and then the next few
days will be all down to theteam.
So it's amazing.
Matt Weitzel (27:18):
Yeah.
Well, thank you all so much forcoming on.
Is there anything else that wehaven't covered?
Niall Mallaghan (27:23):
Or no, thanks, Million, for for taking your
time to number one, come to thegolf, but to to come into our
facility here and see what we dohere in Noonan to support the
North America market.
And um, as Laura says,tomorrow's all about charity and
golf is a great game, it's agreat leveler.
There's a lot of laughs out onthe course whenever the drive
didn't maybe just go where youwanted it, and it could have
gone a lot left or a lot right.
(27:45):
But there's a lot of joviallaughs, and then there's a good
old bit of grub after it, and weall get we all get a bit of
dinner together.
And then I get most people maketheir own way home, I suppose,
for the weekend.
The money's raised, and it'llnot be too long before we uh
announce the what the when theday is over, obviously, what the
with the what the final figureis that's going to be divided
out between the the very worthycharities.
Matt Weitzel (28:04):
Amazing.
Yeah.
All right.
Laura, thank you so much forfor coming on the podcast for
the first time.
Niel, thank you so much for forjoining me.
It's been fun.
Yeah, no, it's it's this wasthis has been a great podcast.
I've learned learned a littlebit more about Malahan, and uh,
we learned a lot more about theShamrock Classic, and and I, you
know, encourage everybody to goon and find out more about the
(28:27):
Shamrock Classic and thosecharities and how to support
them, and then show up next yearif you're not here this year.
Laura McGrath (28:33):
Well, look, thank you, Matt and Fort Brand, a GSC
podcast.
I listen to it regularly.
So now when I don't know howI'll feel hearing my own voice
back, but this is this has beenreally awesome to to highlight
something so special to Malahanand to the industry, the
charities.
So thank you for your time,Matt.
Matt Weitzel (28:49):
Yeah, no problem.
Thank you for letting me useyour facility today.
I was also able to order recordanother podcast here as well.
So it all worked out foreverybody.
So thank you all so much, andwe'll see you on the golf
course.
Niall Mallaghan (28:59):
No, we'll see you on the golf simulator later
on.
Oh, well, yeah, yeah.
Matt Weitzel (29:03):
Yeah, I'm gonna try to avoid that.
All right, thank you.
Niall Mallaghan (29:05):
I'm certainly gonna avoid the axe throw one
because that's that sounds likeyeah, I don't know.
Matt Weitzel (29:09):
I think uh yeah, I don't think anybody wants to
see me throw an axe.
So I'll be staying on thesidelines for that one.
But all right, well, thank youall so much.
Thank you.
From Team Malahan, Matt, thanksa million.
All the best.
All right, thanks.
Bye-bye.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of the GSE Podcast.
We hope you found itinformative and engaging.
(29:30):
If this episode resonated withyou, please share it with your
colleagues and peers in theground support equipment
community.
Your support is invaluable tous.
We'd appreciate it if you couldtake a moment to rate and
review our podcast.
Your feedback not onlyencourages us, but also helps
expand our reach within the GSEcommunity.
Keep an eye out for moreepisodes as we continue to
(29:51):
explore the dynamic world ofground operations, bringing you
the latest trends, insights, andstories from the industry.
Thank you for listening to theGST Podcast.
Podcast.
Until we meet again, staygrounded and keep pushing
forward.
This episode of the GSE Podcast is brought to
you by Fort Brand, not youreveryday GSE provider.
We go beyond belt loaders andbag tractors, offering tow
barless pushbacks, de-icers, andairport maintenance equipment,
all available on demand acrossNorth America and the UK.
(00:22):
Whether you need electric unitsto support your ESG goals or
traditional equipment fortoday's ramp, Fort Brand
delivers flexible leasing withthe option of full service
maintenance to keep your fleetat peak performance.
When you partner with FortBrand, you get more than
equipment.
You get expertise, reliability,and a commitment to keeping
(00:43):
your operation running smoothly.
Visit Fortbrand.com to learnmore.
This is Christian Eisner.
This is Kyle Brunner.
This is Calder War.
This is Ronan Malahan, and youare listening to the GSE
podcast.
All right.
(01:05):
Well, welcome to the GSEPodcast.
I am here at Mallaghan Newnan,Georgia.
And I am with a couple ofspecial folks here.
I am with Laura McGrath.
And did I say it wrong?
Laura McGrath (01:22):
Nope.
Perfect.
Matt Weitzel (01:22):
Oh, I thought you were about to say, oh, you said
that wrong.
Okay.
In Niall Mallaghan.
And uh this is Niles' firsttime on the podcast.
Laura, is this your first timeon the podcast?
Laura McGrath (01:35):
First official podcast with yourself, Matt.
I really got the honor to dothe intro one year at GHI
America's.
Oh, yeah.
Matt Weitzel (01:41):
And I've been and then you were in the room for
the first women of GSE podcast,but you did not participate.
Laura McGrath (01:50):
No, I shadowed it, and Karla and Abbie were
fantastic.
So I was just waiting for theday I got the call-up.
Matt Weitzel (01:56):
So has it been a huge regret in your life that
you didn't get to join that day?
Laura McGrath (02:00):
Yes.
Yeah.
Been thinking about it eversince.
Every day, since every daysince.
So this is an honor and aprivilege.
Matt Weitzel (02:07):
Well, you know, we're just we're just glad
you're here, you're here.
And Niles, this is your firsttime on the podcast.
Thank you so much for forjoining us.
We're we're huge fans ofMalahan, and we have been a
sponsor of the event that we'regoing to talk about for a number
of years today.
So, but Niall, what I'd like tostart with you on is kind of
(02:27):
the history of Malahan.
So I've I've interviewed, Iinterviewed John Cameron and Joe
Griffith, but we didn't reallyget into the history.
And if we did, it was likeepisode five or something.
So maybe people haven'tlistened back that far.
So why don't you give us thehistory of Malahan?
Hi Matt.
Thanks.
Niall Mallaghan (02:45):
Uh thanks a million for that introduction
and for visiting us here inNoonan, our USA facility.
No, Mallaghan Engineeringstarted manufacturing ground
support equipment in 1990.
Prior to that, the company wasfounded by my father, a civil
engineering company.
But he diversified intomechanical engineering because
that was always his dream toproduce something that he would
(03:07):
be proud of.
And so we started in 1990,started servicing local airports
such as Belfast.
Then slowly but surely in theearly 90s, we went across to the
UK, Newcastle, Birmingham,Edinburgh, you know, just a few
airports in the UK.
Our product range at the startwas baggage loading machine, and
that quickly developed intothen PRM medical lifts.
(03:30):
And to this day, we stillmanufacture then PRM medical
lifts and dispatch themworldwide from our Dungyan
Ireland facility.
So in the early 90s, thecompany was still small because
it was a brand new company.
But my father was a greatengineer, a great thinker.
These days was a little bitdifferent till today's
Mallaghan, in that a lot of thedrawings were not done on 3D
(03:52):
solid works.
There wasn't an abundance ofengineers or a purchasing team,
that type of roles.
But it was mechanical drawingsdone on A0 pages and cutting and
welding steel, putting ittogether and painting it and
dispatching it all at the sametime.
Not in the numbers that we dotoday, but it was a great
foundation.
Really, really good andexciting days.
(04:13):
Myself, my brother Ronan, wetook the company over from my
dad in 2003.
He never really retired.
But unfortunately, we lost himin 2008.
And it was at 70 years old, itwas just he was too young.
But anyways, I think he'd bevery proud of where the company
has grown to nowadays, of theproduct range.
I'd be very proud of thecountries that we sell equipment
(04:36):
to.
And the memory and the and thelivelihood of my father lives on
in the factory every day,anyway, because he's always
talked about, you know, a lot ofthe staff at Mallaghan have
been there 25, 27, 30 yearssince the very start.
They all knew him, knew himvery, very well.
So his memory and and and andhis his legacy lives on to this
day.
Matt Weitzel (04:55):
Do you think that he envisioned you all going
worldwide with this company?
Oh, of course he did.
Niall Mallaghan (05:02):
But it's a case of his family.
He was born in a rural part ofIreland in County Tyrone.
And it was it, you know, it wasa farming tradition.
You had to be entrepreneurialaround the farm.
You know, the houses in thename days might not have
electric or didn't have a car ordidn't have a tractor.
You know, so you had to be youhad to be entrepreneurial.
If you're going to build ahouse, you had to make your own
(05:23):
blocks, that type of thing.
So that's what got him startedand kept him looking forward.
But he always he always lovedthe excitement of working with
steel.
I guess through the years, byhis with his guidance and with
his intuition, he was able to, agreat thinker.
At nighttime, if he woke upwith an idea, he would scribble
it down on a page so that hewouldn't forget for the next
morning.
(05:43):
So at night time he would dohis designs as well.
And even on a Saturday orSunday, if he came up with a new
door method for locking a dooror for opening a bonnet on a on
a on a on a piece of GSE, hewould have maybe went to the
workshop and started working onit there in the end.
He wouldn't wait for Mondaybecause of the excitement that
he had inside himself.
So through the years, ourproduct range has uh it has
(06:06):
grown.
We've got five main productlines, I guess, now de-icers,
belt conveyors, high lifts, highlifts covers, catering trucks,
PRM lifts, and cabin cleaningtrucks.
We also have uh toilet andmotor trucks, pack stairs, and
uh in any typical year we'llexport to more than 40 different
countries.
Now, if you take North Americahere, we count that as one
(06:27):
country, but there could be 40different airports within North
America alone.
So our how the company growgrew over the years is we
extended our product range tothem, that five portfolio that I
mentioned.
We expanded our marketplacewhere where we were selling the
equipment, so both went hand inhand.
As I say, in any typical yearwe'll export to more than 40
different countries, and in ourshort history, because we're
(06:49):
only formed in 1990, so in ourshort history, we've exp we
dispatched and um uh soldequipment to more than 100
different countries.
That's incredible.
Matt Weitzel (06:59):
Are you still in the original you know,
manufacturing facility that youall had?
Have you all just expanded thatout, or did you have to move in
to a new facility because it ityou all got so big?
Niall Mallaghan (07:09):
Yeah, it's a very good question, actually.
The original factory is whereour head office is, but in the
next uh part of the industrialestate, the next factory across
was a factory that manufacturedcrystal.
When I say crystal,chandeliers, ashtrays, wine
glasses, it was called TyroneCrystal, and it was very famous.
But in 2008, crystal became athing that wasn't really popular
(07:31):
for, I guess, wedding gifts andthat type of thing anymore.
But my father used to stand atair factory and look across and
go, Imagine our factory was asbig as that one next door.
And I wish he had theopportunity to see us now
because we actually own thatfactory as well.
And in in Dunganon, both areinside the same perimeter fence
now.
So we've we've got two bigfactories on the one side.
(07:52):
So one's called fabrication,that's where we cut, weld,
paint, the other one's assembly,that's where we screw
everything together, PDI it anddispatch it.
And how many employees do youall have in those facilities?
Oh Matt, good question.
Also, uh in Dunganon it'saround 500 or just a few more
than 500 for sure.
Wow.
And here in Noonan it's morethan 100 staff.
Matt Weitzel (08:12):
So you all employ a lot of people, I imagine, in
your in your town over there.
Niall Mallaghan (08:16):
Yeah, and and uh in Malahan, call it Team
Malahan because everybody istreated with the same respect.
And you know, we've quite corevalues, and one of them is
people.
So we treat people the way welike get treated ourselves.
So we talk about Team Malahan,and yes, it's fantastic to walk
into the local shops and seesomebody with a Malahan fleece
(08:36):
or a Malah t-shirt on, and theyalways say hello to you, and you
have a joyful conversation, andmaybe you vice versa.
We introduce each other to ourkids or to our wife or to our
partners, and uh it's a greatfeeling because it's a small
community.
Dungan's a town of probablyaround 35,000, 40,000 people,
and a lot of people know a lotof people, so yeah, there's a
(08:57):
great sense of pride, but notonly that, there's a great sense
of pride within our staffbecause they'll often come in.
Well, you're watching such aprogram on television last
night.
No, I missed it by whathappened.
There was a set of passengerstairs on it, so there was and
there was somebody famouswalking on them, like a soccer
team or uh royalty from acountry visiting or whatever.
And it could even be from uhAustralian TV or TV from Dubai
(09:21):
or TV from North America wherethey said, Did you see that on
the news last night?
There was a there was a Malahcatering truck and a Malah and
thecer on the television.
It was brilliant, you know.
So yeah, it's team Malah, andthere's a great spirit with the
people, yeah.
Laura McGrath (09:33):
Strong passion for sure.
You know, when you're talkingthere, it is.
It's a it's a passion when whenyou work.
And it's probably you knowyourself, Matt, but the GSE
industry, there's passionthroughout, whether what
whatever role you play, you youfeel important in the company,
and and definitely in our localarea, there is definitely that
team Malahon.
And you're you're proud ofwhere you where you work and you
(09:53):
know you will, you'll wear youryour Malahan badge or or or
whatever it may be outside ofwork hours.
Niall Mallaghan (09:59):
So it it's a nice Yeah, it I find in the
aviation, Lord, I agree with you101%.
There is you get this feelingwhen you've got little small
airplanes running around in yourblood veins that uh you never
want to leave the industry onceyou get into it, do you?
Laura McGrath (10:11):
Yeah.
And the family-owned aspect isa big thing too.
There's not many in the GSCindustry that are probably as
still family ran as Malahan.
So it's uh it definitely doescreate even with our commercial
team, or whether it's sales andservice or or marketing with
myself, we're all like one bigfamily, which can be good and
(10:32):
bad, but it uh it definitely hasthat real family feel, which
which is what drew me in.
Niall Mallaghan (10:38):
Another thing that Laura has created in
Malahan a couple of years agowas an internal app.
So if you're an employee, bothhere in Noonan or in the
Dungalin facility, if you'repart of Team Malahan, you have
full access to the app.
The app promotes you knowdifferent jobs is available at
the time, but it also goes intoputting on pictures of machines
delivered to customers.
(10:58):
So it lets the people knowwhere the equipment's going, it
lets them know uh what thefunction of it is on the
airport.
So they're not just they're notjust a designer or or a welder
or a PDI expert or an engineer.
It comes in today and goestomorrow.
They can see and they can sharephotographs and it gives them a
great sense of pride.
There's lots of lots of otherthings, you know.
(11:20):
When when we have visitors, weput on photographs so people
know who they are.
And you know, we we share a lotof information internally on
it, and it's a great, it's agreat method of communication.
We also have prize draws on itand the inclusivity, you know,
like Halloween's not far awayfrom us now as we as as we sit
here today.
And like uh Laura and the teamand the social committee,
they've organized for afireworks display, and that's
(11:42):
for all the families to bringtheir kids and the grandkids and
whatever, all down to thefactory.
And then there'll be facepainting competitions and who's
dressed up the best, fancydress, gets a prize, etc.
etc.
So there's lots of lots of goodstuff like that in Team Malahan
throughout the year, differentevents through the year.
But that's the next one thatLaura and our team have
organized.
God, Team Mallahan soundsawesome.
Laura McGrath (12:03):
Can we persuade you, Matt?
Matt Weitzel (12:05):
I know, right?
Uh so Laura, how did you getyour start at Mallahan?
Laura McGrath (12:09):
Yeah, well, to be totally honest, I had drove
past the factory kind of on mytravels every day.
I live about 10 minutes fromthe factory and never knew
exactly what they did.
I remember seeing stairs or wasthe bus.
So when I graduated, I thoughtI'll look locally first for a
company that maybe had amarketing or a sales position at
(12:30):
graduate level.
And that's exactly what I done.
I saw Malahan was hiring.
And part of me thought I'll gofor an interview, but I won't be
able to work in engineering andmanufacturing.
I don't have a clue what goeson behind the production line.
But I went for my interview.
I actually met with OwenMcKenna, who's very well known
in the industry as well.
And it just sparked aninterest.
(12:53):
I wanted to know more.
I wanted to know what was goingon 10 minutes down the road
from where I grew up.
So I got a second interview anddecided that was the role for
me.
So joined about three and ahalf, in three and a half years
ago.
It's been nothing but crazyfun, excitement, learning and
growth ever since, to be totallyhonest.
(13:14):
I'm glad he took the risk andkind of didn't listen to the
voices in your head that tellyou, you know, maybe
engineering's not for you, oryou don't know what GS GSE is,
so don't don't do it.
But I'm I've I've never lookedback yet, touch wood.
So that that's kind of a longstory cut short for for my start
at Malahan.
Matt Weitzel (13:33):
Well, as a fellow marketer, I will say that you do
a fantastic job in marketingthe Malahan brand.
Laura McGrath (13:39):
Back at you, Matt.
Back at you.
Matt Weitzel (13:41):
So so very much appreciated.
And then we were kind oftalking a little bit before we
started, and I think Niles, youwere saying that you, you know,
Malahan's always been involvedin in charities and so forth.
So what kind of brought thisthis golf, the Shamrock series
to life?
Niall Mallaghan (14:00):
We as a company let the staff guide us and
choose what charities that themoney's contributed to or raised
for.
We r run several fundraisingyou know events through the
year.
And this golf charity, it'sjust very similar to what we do,
one of our charities chosenback in Northern Ireland as
well.
And it's for mental awareness,and it's such a big problem
(14:20):
around the world now where it'sgreat for people to have a
facility or a place or a contactto go to to be able to speak
about these issues if and whenneeded.
And the modern day world needsthat facility, and that's why we
support that here in NorthAmerica and is one of our chosen
charities back home in in NorthIreland as well.
Matt Weitzel (14:40):
So, Laura, can you kind of give our listeners an
overview of of what the Shamrockseries is, who participates,
who it's open to, and and thenwhere all that money goes.
So it kind of gives us a goodoverview of this thing.
Laura McGrath (14:56):
Yeah.
Well, like I said, we were justtalking about when I started.
So the year I started wasactually the first year of the
Shamrock Classic.
And I'm so thrilled that I'vebeen able to be through the
journey since.
We're on our fourth year andit's just grown to something we
never thought it would.
We started in 2022, a smallenough group of golfers, but
some great faces in theindustry, some good local
(15:17):
companies.
And really it stemmed from,like Nail said, that that
support that's needed for mentalhealth and suicide prevention,
both whether you're in NorthernIreland or North America, we we
want to support it as a company.
It's something very close toour hearts.
And whether it's colleagues orpartners, you know, we want we
want to ensure that the fundingthat we that we create in
(15:39):
Malahan is going to thosecauses.
So to give a bit of anoverview, we work with four
charities.
We have a national charity,which is the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention.
And then we focused after ourfirst year, we said, let's get
stuck into the community inNoonan.
And who in Noonan needs ourfunding?
And who will our employees goto if they needed mental health
(16:01):
support or assistance?
So we found four.
Well, we found three incrediblecharities, Fred Edges, Hunter
Scarborough, and the Bird House.
And we connected with thesecharities.
We wanted to get to know thembefore we just ticked a box and
agreed to sign them on for ourcharity for the golf.
And as soon as we met them, weactually got them all in a room
(16:22):
in Noonan and we discussed whatthey provide for the community.
And what we found it wasincredible because the charities
were all bouncing off eachother and you know, discussing
how if if someone came to them,they could then divert them to
this charity, or we can all worktogether for an end goal.
So we just knew it was it wasright.
Myself and Joe met with themand then led into the second
(16:44):
annual, which seems like alifetime ago now.
But look, every year the fundsgo up, the attendees go up.
We have golfers that are partof Team Malahan, we have
industry ground handlers, wehave leasing companies,
manufacturers, batterycompanies, uh, everything from A
to Z or Z in America.
(17:04):
They want to be part of it, youknow, competitors, customers,
everything.
It's open, it's it's we don'tclose it off to anyone.
You know, it's not corporate,it's not the GSE Expo, it's
something close to Malahan'sheart that we want to grow.
So if you are free to attend,you are you are welcome to.
And any penny or cent that wemake is so, so appreciated.
(17:27):
So where we've where we aresitting now in the fourth year,
and we're gonna wake up tomorrowand play some golf and raise
some money.
And it's a very wholesome,wholesome weekend.
And I'm just honored that I getto be a part of the planning
and the attendance at it.
Matt Weitzel (17:45):
Yeah.
So what so first of all, let mesay I that my first year was
last year, and I know.
Can you believe it?
You were there.
Yeah, so a lot of the team werewere able to make it.
I think it was what, you know,two years ago or whatever.
Yeah.
But I was I was unable.
I had something else come up.
I think my son was in some kindof performance or something
like that.
If you can believe that myson's a performer, but so
anyway, so I missed that one.
(18:06):
But I went last year and it wasjust so much fun.
Everybody's just having, youknow, the time of their life.
Of course, Malahan people arefun.
I mean, we can say that, right,and I think everybody would
agree.
So we had a great time.
And last year we we have akickoff event, right?
On the on the Thursday beforethe the Friday morning.
So tell our listeners a littlebit about what we will be doing
tonight.
Laura McGrath (18:27):
Yeah.
So we like to welcome everyoneinto Noonan.
You know, throughout today,there's been a lot of factory
visits.
Maybe new or old customers wantto connect with with our team
members.
So they'll come to the factoryduring the day, and then tonight
kicks off a welcome event.
And that's kind of gonna have abit of food and drinks, a lot
of kind of networking, mixingand mingling.
(18:47):
And then outside, so we do itat a local bar, Art and Jake's,
and it's it's right by thehotels, which is great for our
out-of-towners.
And we'll do a little bit ofaxe throwing.
We have a golf stimulator toget everyone's swing kind of
warmed up for the shotguntomorrow.
So it's always nice to geteveryone into Noonan.
And it there is that sense ofcommunity on the Thursday night
(19:08):
because we're all together.
We maybe haven't seen eachother in a while.
Some of us are reconnectingfrom Vegas a couple of weeks
ago.
So it's nice to always networkin the industry, meet new
people, but also, you know, sayhi to the to the day one, day
one sponsors that have beenthere since 2022.
Matt Weitzel (19:26):
So is it still growing as far as sponsors and
things like that and customersand vendors and everything else?
Laura McGrath (19:31):
Totally, Matt.
To be honest, this is ourbiggest year.
And I think myself and Joe andall of us at Mullihan are
overwhelmed by the support andnow by people reaching out
wanting to do something to help.
Whereas the first couple ofyears, it was a lot of
campaigning.
It was a lot of me probablytorturing people via email to
get on board.
But I think once once you hearabout it and the way it's spoke
(19:54):
about after is so wholesome aswell because you do feel like
you're doing good for thecommunity.
But also people, like you said,they have fun.
You know, we joke that itmightn't be the golf tournament
for all golfers because noteveryone is, you know, Roy
McElroy or anything like that.
But it is definitely an eventthat was fun.
(20:15):
There's I've never really seenanyone on the course not smiling
and laughing.
And the the videos pro provedthat last year where we invested
some of the the money into avideo and photographer, and it
paid off because the the contentwas so well, because you got a
video of me in my golf swing.
Matt Weitzel (20:33):
I think that's the reason it paid off.
Laura McGrath (20:34):
I knew that was coming.
Matt Weitzel (20:35):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So uh yeah, I was I was proudlyfeatured in the promo.
So I mean, I don't like tobrag.
Laura McGrath (20:42):
Just watch out for the drone this year, Matt.
Niall Mallaghan (20:44):
Are are we gonna have a drone?
Laura McGrath (20:45):
We're gonna have a drone.
Niall Mallaghan (20:46):
No, Laura's been very, very modest.
They're uh the truth of it isthere's more than 200 golfers
turning up tomorrow.
That's fantastic.
That's that's a lot of lot ofpeople.
Oh, I thought you said it's alot of Jameson.
It's a lot of people taking alot of flights.
You know, we've got a fewpeople coming in from Canada, a
few people in from Europe, andmajority are North American
(21:07):
people.
So it's not like the RaiderCup, it's not Europe taking on
the USA.
You were gonna bring that up.
It it is.
Do you say Rory Michael Roythere once?
He's a real good golfer, isn'the?
He is.
Oh my god.
I'll I'll bring my inner RoryMcElroy out on the course
tomorrow.
Sorry, US listeners.
No, it's a there's more than200 people turning up tomorrow,
and all of it is is is a need ofcharity.
(21:27):
It's not fantastic, isn't it?
That's giving back.
That's everybody giving back,not just Melinda, that's
everybody giving back.
That's 100% right.
Laura McGrath (21:33):
Probably one thing just when we do mention
the charities, they're thepeople that show up tomorrow
morning and and they want to getinvolved with selling quarter
zips or handing out gift bags,giving people their drink
tickets and their water or theirbreakfast.
The charities show up everyyear because they see you know
the excitement in the tournamentand and that that positive that
(21:54):
positive atmosphere.
So, you know, they almost bebegging to help, which is also
great that we've now got thesepartnerships within the Noonan
community, the the greater NorthAmerica.
But that that's one thing Ialways, you know, take away from
it is the charities want to bethere.
You know, they take a day offwork and they'll they'll show up
for us.
Matt Weitzel (22:12):
So it's uh I think my favorite partnership is the
Chick-fil-A sponsorship.
Laura McGrath (22:17):
Yeah.
Matt Weitzel (22:18):
Because they provide chicken biscuits in the
morning.
And then after this, it's gonnago from like 200 to like 250
next year after they people hearthis.
I mean free chicken biscuits,you can't turn that off.
Laura McGrath (22:28):
I remember my first year.
It's my first time in Georgia.
First time having a Chick-fil-Awas at the Gulf, and the
chicken biscuit was the talk ofthe town.
To us, it's like a it's like ascone or scone scone.
So it's it it was a cultureshock for us, but it's safe to
say that I've had plenty since.
Matt Weitzel (22:46):
Yeah.
So are you are you guys a fanof the chicken biscuit?
Is that something that thattranscends?
I like it.
Okay.
Laura McGrath (22:52):
I like things you can't get at home.
So when I'm here, I do try tohit as many places and and and
try the Chick-fil-A or thechicken burger from Chick-fil-A.
Niall Mallaghan (23:02):
So it's and she always brings the other stuff
home, big bags of sweets.
Laura McGrath (23:07):
Jolly ranchers.
Jolly Ranchers.
Matt Weitzel (23:09):
The old stuff just look like you all don't have
the good candy over there.
Laura McGrath (23:13):
So I make a trip.
Matt Weitzel (23:14):
We have the ultra-processed candy.
Yep that's unbelievable.
Laura McGrath (23:17):
I think I have a couple of kg of Jolly Ranchers
to take home now on Monday.
Matt Weitzel (23:22):
So you can't get Jolly Ranchers?
Laura McGrath (23:24):
Not as accessible.
Maybe Amazon you can get some,but it's kind of a tradition
now.
If anyone goes to the Noonanfacility, they bring home.
Jolly Rancher.
Matt Weitzel (23:32):
That's the one thing that has to go.
I love it.
Laura McGrath (23:35):
So it's uh it's a culture that we've created and
it's it kind of sparks a jokehere and there, and you're
rushing to to Target in casethey don't have them at the
airport.
So it's a it's a it's a funnyone.
Matt Weitzel (23:47):
Well, thanks a lot for for telling me more about
the the Shamrock series and orclassic shamrock.
Laura McGrath (23:53):
The Shamrock Classic, fourth annual this
year.
Matt Weitzel (23:55):
Come on, Matt.
Yeah, I'm thinking Notre Dame.
That's a Shamrock series.
Sorry, Shamrock Classic.
Laura McGrath (24:00):
Shamrock Classic.
Matt Weitzel (24:02):
Yes.
So if people want to getinvolved next year, because
we're golfing tomorrow, sothey're a little bit late to the
game for this year, but if theywant to get involved next year,
what's the best way to do that?
Laura McGrath (24:12):
So yeah, we have a Shamrock Classic email, and
that's Shamrock Classic atMalahan Group.com.
That'll get you kind of anyinformation.
You can reach out as early asthe day after the tournament
this year.
Early January is when we reallystart promoting it again.
So typically myself and Joewill speak with the course
tomorrow when we're finished upand we'll actually book our
date.
Matt Weitzel (24:33):
Okay.
Laura McGrath (24:33):
We'll we'll send a follow-up probably next week
with a save the date for ourcurrent registration.
And then January, when theholidays are over and everyone
is getting their calendarsarranged for 2026, we'll we'll
get the promotion started.
So, you know, LinkedIn, we havea website.
Yeah, just kind of keep up todate with with the Malahan
socials.
Niall Mallaghan (24:53):
Yeah, just could connect with us through
the website if you don't have aan already contact in Malahan.
I'm sure a lot of peoplelistening will have a a contact
with some of the sales team orthe customer care team or
whatever.
But just reach out to anyoneand we'll all point it in the
right direction of Laura hereand Laura's team.
And we look forward to seeingevery every new face next year.
It's a few new faces tomorrowas well, Laura.
(25:14):
A lot of things.
More than 200 people.
Like that's that's that'sthat's a lot of golfers out on
the golf course.
Laura McGrath (25:19):
So I should say too, we we host it at White Oak
in Noonan, which again we'resupporting a local beautiful
golf course.
And they we this year and lastyear we have booked out two full
courses.
So it's really, it's reallysomething special.
So that we know the team atWhite Oak.
We were over there this morningsetting up, and everybody's
like, Yes, the Irish are back.
And are you gonna do the thewhiskey?
(25:39):
And the are you gonna do this?
So it's it's created a cultureeven with a with a very
prestigious golf course thatkind of lets us all in to have
fun and and and celebrate for agood cause.
So it's uh it's exciting.
I'm really looking forward totomorrow.
Matt Weitzel (25:55):
Yeah, and there'll be other OEMs there tomorrow as
well.
So this is open to everybody.
And we you have airlines,you've got ground handlers, you
got other OEMs.
So people, if they want to getinvolved, should reach out.
Laura McGrath (26:07):
Yeah.
Yep.
There's no barriers, like Isaid, it's just for charity.
And, you know, if if you end upnetworking and meeting a
connection, that's alsofantastic.
You know, we've met, I've metso many people through the Gulf
that maybe I wouldn't have metat a trade show.
And I find that interesting,that it does bring a totally
different sense to the to theindustry that kind of takes
takes away the conferences andthe and the the kind of monthly
(26:30):
things that we we get up to as acommercial team.
So yep, no barriers at all,Matt.
We we might even let you backnext year.
Matt Weitzel (26:36):
No, I I would appreciate that.
So so after this, are you justgonna go take like the longest
nap ever because you've justgone right from the expo to
this?
Yeah, are you are you you'vegot to be exhausted.
Laura McGrath (26:47):
Thinking about it.
I fly home Monday back toIreland, I'll arrive Tuesday.
So that'll be me just over fiveweeks out of out of Ireland.
So it uh like I said, Iwouldn't do it if I if I didn't
love it.
So it's all so worth it, theteam we have in Malahan.
You know, today we were runningaround, whether you're a
service engineer or salesman,you know, purchasing everyone in
(27:08):
Noonan here is is running aboutto help make this possible.
So I do the the behind thescenes, and then the next few
days will be all down to theteam.
So it's amazing.
Matt Weitzel (27:18):
Yeah.
Well, thank you all so much forcoming on.
Is there anything else that wehaven't covered?
Niall Mallaghan (27:23):
Or no, thanks, Million, for for taking your
time to number one, come to thegolf, but to to come into our
facility here and see what we dohere in Noonan to support the
North America market.
And um, as Laura says,tomorrow's all about charity and
golf is a great game, it's agreat leveler.
There's a lot of laughs out onthe course whenever the drive
didn't maybe just go where youwanted it, and it could have
gone a lot left or a lot right.
(27:45):
But there's a lot of joviallaughs, and then there's a good
old bit of grub after it, and weall get we all get a bit of
dinner together.
And then I get most people maketheir own way home, I suppose,
for the weekend.
The money's raised, and it'llnot be too long before we uh
announce the what the when theday is over, obviously, what the
with the what the final figureis that's going to be divided
out between the the very worthycharities.
Matt Weitzel (28:04):
Amazing.
Yeah.
All right.
Laura, thank you so much forfor coming on the podcast for
the first time.
Niel, thank you so much for forjoining me.
It's been fun.
Yeah, no, it's it's this wasthis has been a great podcast.
I've learned learned a littlebit more about Malahan, and uh,
we learned a lot more about theShamrock Classic, and and I, you
know, encourage everybody to goon and find out more about the
(28:27):
Shamrock Classic and thosecharities and how to support
them, and then show up next yearif you're not here this year.
Laura McGrath (28:33):
Well, look, thank you, Matt and Fort Brand, a GSC
podcast.
I listen to it regularly.
So now when I don't know howI'll feel hearing my own voice
back, but this is this has beenreally awesome to to highlight
something so special to Malahanand to the industry, the
charities.
So thank you for your time,Matt.
Matt Weitzel (28:49):
Yeah, no problem.
Thank you for letting me useyour facility today.
I was also able to order recordanother podcast here as well.
So it all worked out foreverybody.
So thank you all so much, andwe'll see you on the golf
course.
Niall Mallaghan (28:59):
No, we'll see you on the golf simulator later
on.
Oh, well, yeah, yeah.
Matt Weitzel (29:03):
Yeah, I'm gonna try to avoid that.
All right, thank you.
Niall Mallaghan (29:05):
I'm certainly gonna avoid the axe throw one
because that's that sounds likeyeah, I don't know.
Matt Weitzel (29:09):
I think uh yeah, I don't think anybody wants to
see me throw an axe.
So I'll be staying on thesidelines for that one.
But all right, well, thank youall so much.
Thank you.
From Team Malahan, Matt, thanksa million.
All the best.
All right, thanks.
Bye-bye.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of the GSE Podcast.
We hope you found itinformative and engaging.
(29:30):
If this episode resonated withyou, please share it with your
colleagues and peers in theground support equipment
community.
Your support is invaluable tous.
We'd appreciate it if you couldtake a moment to rate and
review our podcast.
Your feedback not onlyencourages us, but also helps
expand our reach within the GSEcommunity.
Keep an eye out for moreepisodes as we continue to
(29:51):
explore the dynamic world ofground operations, bringing you
the latest trends, insights, andstories from the industry.
Thank you for listening to theGST Podcast.
Podcast.
Until we meet again, staygrounded and keep pushing
forward.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.