Recruitment in Offaly
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Hartley People recruits across Offaly from our Dublin office, part of a group that has placed people in jobs all over Ireland since 2001. We work with employers in Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry and the wider Midlands on permanent, temporary and executive hiring, backed by a 150,000+ candidate network across the country.
Offaly at a Glance
One Group, Three Ways to Hire in Offaly
Permanent, temporary and executive recruitment. Whatever you need to hire in Offaly, one relationship with our team gives you access to all three.
Permanent Recruitment
- Professional permanent recruitment across industries, functions and seniority levels
- Recruitment on Demand, Career Services and Outplacement support
- SearchPLUS sourcing for hard-to-fill and strategic Offaly appointments
Temporary Staffing & Workforce Solutions
- Temporary staff for seasonal, project and high-volume Offaly requirements
- Recruitment Project Management (RPM) and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
- Flexibility, cost control and compliance built in
Executive Search
- Senior, executive and confidential search for Offaly and Midlands businesses
- Leadership assessment, succession planning and board-level appointments
- The LBR (Leaf, Branch, Root) sourcing methodology
Meet the Recruitment Team
You’re hiring a service delivered by people. Meet the recruiters who could be working your Offaly search.
Fergal Hartley
Joint OwnerFergal Hartley
Joint OwnerWith a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Fergal Hartley is a highly regarded joint owner of prominent recruitment and staffing ventures, including Hartley People Recruitment & Training, Flexiforce, Clannad Care and Burton Sinclair. His entrepreneurial spirit has driven these companies to success, making them leaders in their respective fields. Fergal’s comprehensive background in talent acquisition, combined with strategic insight and a commitment to best practices as a Fellow of the National Recruitment Federation, positions him as an invaluable partner for securing top executive talent.
LinkedInPierre Fetat
Head of OperationsPierre Fetat
Head of OperationsPierre is an accomplished B2B International Director who works across functions, with over 15 years of experience across digital marketing, business development, and complex sales. With a strong background in Customer Data Platforms (CDP), Customer Success, and digital transformation initiatives, Pierre brings a wealth of expertise to executive search. His strategic insights, coupled with his commitment to driving innovation and operational excellence, make him a valuable partner for clients seeking visionary executive talent.
LinkedInDamien McCleane
Head of Strategic RecruitmentDamien McCleane
Head of Strategic RecruitmentWith nearly 30 years of experience across recruitment, training, business development, and customer relationship management, Damien McCleane is an accomplished professional with a versatile background in executive and managerial roles across diverse sectors. Also serving as Regional Manager at Hartley People, Damien combines his expertise in strategic recruitment, client partnership, and team leadership to drive excellence and innovation within the executive search landscape.
LinkedInJessica Maher
Recruitment Team LeadJessica Maher
Recruitment Team LeadJess is responsible for recruitment across supply chain, production, engineering and warehousing. Having previously worked in the hospitality industry, she spent four years in Australia furthering her career before returning home to Wexford. A positive and energetic member of the team, Jess is a keen supporter of Wexford hurling and enjoys baking, going to the gym and spending time with friends.
LinkedInDarren O’Connor
Recruitment Team LeadDarren O’Connor
Recruitment Team LeadDarren specialises in recruiting for IT, HR, agricultural and commercial sales roles. With previous experience as an Operations Manager and Partner and Client Relations Manager within the waste technology sector, he brings strong operational and people-focused expertise to his role. Based in Waterford with his wife and dog, Loki, Darren enjoys sport, travel and keeping active.
LinkedInDanielle Bohill-Walsh
Senior Partner — Finance SpecialistDanielle Bohill-Walsh
Senior Partner — Finance SpecialistAs an experienced Senior Talent Partner, Danielle brings extensive expertise and a genuine passion for connecting people with the right opportunities. She combines a professional and personable approach with a strong understanding of clients and candidates, building lasting relationships and identifying the right talent. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys home and interior design and spending time with her husband and young daughter.
LinkedInPadraig Murphy
Senior Partner — Sales SpecialistPadraig Murphy
Senior Partner — Sales SpecialistPadraig is a Senior Recruitment Partner at Hartley People Recruitment, where he leads the Sales desk and focuses on connecting talented individuals with the right businesses. Before moving into recruitment, he spent 10 years working in Business Operations and holds a BA in Business and Human Resource Management. Outside of work, Padraig is an avid Liverpool supporter and keen golfer.
LinkedInBrendan White
Marketing ManagerNigel Kelly
Talent SpecialistNigel Kelly
Talent SpecialistHailing from Carrick-on-Suir, Nigel is responsible for recruitment across IT, research and development, hospitality, trades and service technician roles. With a strong interest in technology, he is often the first point of contact for technical support within the office. Nigel previously worked in radio, presenting sports news and his own weekly show on WLR. He is also an accomplished photographer, keen runner, rugby fan and enthusiastic gardener.
LinkedInEimear Cox
Recruitment SpecialistEimear Cox
Recruitment SpecialistEimear graduated from WIT with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2018. Following several years in the insurance industry, including a period in Vancouver working with clients such as Michael Bublé and Nelly Furtado, she moved into recruitment to apply her understanding of people and relationships to helping clients and candidates find the right opportunities. A Waterford native, Eimear enjoys reading, board games, Dungeons & Dragons, pub quizzes and jiu jitsu.
LinkedInHannah Sullivan
Recruitment SpecialistHannah Sullivan
Recruitment SpecialistHannah holds a Diploma in International Human Resource Management, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Diploma in International Hotel Management from Shannon College of Hotel Management. Beginning her career in hotel management, she developed strong communication and problem-solving skills, along with a genuine interest in working with people. Her move into recruitment brings together her experience in business, hospitality and human resources, with a focus on understanding candidates and making the right connections.
LinkedInTamara Fisher
Recruitment SpecialistTamara Fisher
Recruitment SpecialistTamara brings extensive experience in operations management, customer service and team leadership, having worked in fast-paced, people-focused environments. She also holds a QQI Level 6 qualification in Human Resources and has a genuine passion for building relationships and helping people find the right opportunities. Outside of work, Tamara enjoys travelling, keeping active and spending time with friends, family and her pug, Harry.
LinkedInTricia Quinn
Commercial and Operations ManagerTricia Quinn
Commercial and Operations ManagerTricia brings energy and warmth to Flexiforce as Commercial and Operations Manager, Hartley People’s temporary recruitment division. A natural people-person, she ensures every interaction is positive and productive, and helps organise team events that keep morale high. With over 15 years as a trainer on FÁS-funded courses, she placed students into permanent roles before moving into operations with charities including Cycle Against Suicide and Make-A-Wish Ireland. Tricia joined Hartley People in 2021. Outside work, she is an avid sea swimmer along the Copper Coast and a proud Ironman finisher (Barcelona, 2019).
LinkedInAshling Durand
Senior Team Lead & Talent SpecialistAshling Durand
Senior Team Lead & Talent SpecialistAshling started in reception at Flexiforce, quickly becoming the office’s go-to person for all things operational—a role she still holds alongside her work as Senior Team Lead and Talent Specialist. She has grown steadily through the business, gaining experience across multiple functions. Ashling enjoys supporting colleagues and clients, solving problems and providing guidance wherever needed. She takes pride in being a reliable point of contact for both the team and the wider business. Beyond work, she loves spending time outdoors with her young family, with a particular fondness for discovering new beaches.
LinkedInKelley Rothwell
Senior Talent Specialist & Compliance CoordinatorKelley Rothwell
Senior Talent Specialist & Compliance CoordinatorKelley works as Senior Talent Specialist and Compliance Coordinator at Flexiforce. With a diverse background spanning talent management, education, hospitality and the creative sector, she brings strong communication, leadership and relationship-building skills to her role. After eight years in hospitality—including managerial positions in Cork and Waterford—Kelley moved into education, holding a Professional Master of Education in Art from UCC following earlier studies in Fine Art at Crawford College of Art & Design. In her current role, she focuses on candidate engagement, recruitment coordination and compliance, taking a proactive, people-centred approach to connecting talent with opportunity.
LinkedInSean Whelan
Talent Specialist & HR AdministratorSean Whelan
Talent Specialist & HR AdministratorSean supports the Flexiforce Agency Staffing Solutions team as Talent Specialist and HR Administrator. He holds a Master’s degree in HR and is an Associate Member of the CIPD. Sean combines his academic background with a genuine interest in recruitment and HR, bringing both knowledge and enthusiasm to his role. Outside the office, he is a keen soccer fan and reigning champion of the company Fantasy Football League.
LinkedInMaureen Flynn
Talent SpecialistMaureen Flynn
Talent SpecialistMaureen is a Waterford native and Talent Specialist with Flexiforce. Before joining the team, she managed the Pandora store in Waterford city and later completed a Diploma in Interior Design. Maureen combines her retail and design experience with a natural ability to connect with people, making her a valued member of the recruitment team. Outside work, she enjoys beach walks, sea swimming and spending time outdoors with her two children. She is also known locally as the lead singer of the band No Hot Ashes.
LinkedInJessica Murphy
Talent SpecialistWant the Full Picture of How We Recruit?
This page is about recruiting in Offaly. Our Permanent Recruitment page goes deeper into the services, methods and specialist knowledge behind every permanent hire we make, across Offaly and the rest of Ireland.
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Our Services
How permanent recruitment works with us, from the first brief and shortlist through to offer, start date and aftercare.
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Our Methodology
Our 3E Approach, the market research we do before every search, and how SearchPLUS reaches candidates who never see a job ad.
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Industries We Recruit For
The sectors we hire into across Ireland, and the talent markets and hiring pressures that are particular to each one.
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What We Specialise In
All 19 specialisms, from accountancy and finance, engineering and life sciences to technology, sales and senior leadership.
All of it on one page. A few minutes’ read, then come back and talk to us about your Offaly hire.
Explore Permanent RecruitmentRecruiting Across Offaly & the Midlands
Offaly’s labour market crosses into Westmeath, Laois, Kildare and North Tipperary daily. Census 2016 counted 8,682 residents working outside the county.
Hartley People, serving Offaly
From our Dublin office
20 Harcourt Street
Dublin 2, D02 H364
(01) 525 8506
Get Directions→Tap the pin for contact details
The Industries Driving Employment in Offaly
Offaly’s economy looks very different from ten years ago. Here’s what’s actually driving hiring across the county now, and what it means if you’re trying to fill a role.
Health & Public Sector
Human health and social work employs more than 4,300 Offaly residents, the county’s third-largest sector (Census 2022). The Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore added 289 whole-time equivalent staff between 2020 and late 2024, Offaly County Council is headquartered in the town, and Laois and Offaly ETB employs around 1,000 people across the two counties.
Manufacturing & Engineering
Manufacturing employs more Offaly residents than any other sector, over 4,600 (Census 2022). Cardinal Health wound down its Tullamore medical devices plant by April 2026, while food, fabrication and building-products operations around Tullamore, Edenderry and Banagher still need fitters, technicians and supervisors.
- 4,600+ workers · Census 2022
Energy & Renewables
Peat built a large part of this county’s working life. The West Offaly Power Station at Shannonbridge closed in December 2020, after more than 300 people had worked there. Many of the same bogs now generate electricity: Bord na Móna’s 75MW Cloncreen wind farm near Rhode went live in 2022, and its 126MW Derrinlough wind farm opened in April 2026.
Food, Drink & Distilling
Food and drink is one of Tullamore’s oldest industries, and still one of its biggest. Carroll Cuisine had about 330 staff in the town when Eight Fifty Food Group bought it in 2020, Tullamore D.E.W.’s distillery employs around 100, and Offaly’s Glenisk is halfway through a €20 million new plant.
Retail, Wholesale & Distribution
Wholesale and retail trade employs almost 4,600 Offaly residents, just behind manufacturing (Census 2022). Tullamore is the county’s main shopping and service town, and the N52 to the M6 and the N80 to the M7 make Offaly a practical base for distribution serving Dublin, the west and the south.
- ~4,600 workers · Census 2022
Construction & Building Products
Banagher Precast Concrete makes bridge beams for road and rail projects across Ireland and Britain. With up to 120 construction jobs at Derrinlough and as many proposed at Lemanaghan, the wind build-out keeps civil and site demand strong.
A Changing Offaly Changes Who You Compete For
Growth creates opportunity. It also creates competition for the people who can deliver it. That’s where we come in.
Bord na Móna’s move from peat to wind is the biggest change in the county’s economy. The West Offaly Power Station at Shannonbridge, where more than 300 people worked, closed in December 2020, and West Offaly felt it. On cutaway bog between Birr and Cloghan, the 126MW Derrinlough wind farm opened in April 2026, an investment of over €150 million.
More is in the pipeline. In March 2026, Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables sought planning for a 90MW wind farm on Lemanaghan Bog near Ferbane, with up to 120 jobs at peak construction if it proceeds. Projects like these need grid, electrical, civil and project people, and every Offaly employer competes for them.
The Investment Behind Offaly’s Growth
Offaly’s Talent Pipeline Runs Through TUS
Offaly has no university campus of its own, so its graduate pipeline runs through the Technological University of the Shannon, whose Athlone campus sits just over the county line in Westmeath. TUS taught more than 14,500 students in 2022-23 and trains craft apprentices at Athlone, alongside engineering, computing, science, nursing and business programmes that supply Midlands employers.
Closer to home, Laois and Offaly ETB runs further education and training centres in Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry, Clara and Banagher, plus the National Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas, near Daingean. Maynooth and the Dublin universities are within commuting reach of east Offaly. Knowing which of these routes a candidate came through tells you a lot about where to find the next one.
Sometimes the Right Candidate Isn’t Here Yet
When a specialist role means someone has to move, the county is part of the offer: no more daily drive up the M4 or M7, house prices well below Dublin and Kildare, the Grand Canal through Tullamore, Lough Boora, the Slieve Blooms, Georgian Birr and the Shannon at Banagher, with motorways in every direction.
The likeliest movers are Offaly natives working in Dublin, Kildare, Athlone or abroad. Our recruiters know how to put a role back home in front of them.
From First Brief to Start Date
The same disciplined process behind every Offaly search, whatever the role.
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Discovery
Understanding the role, the team and the Offaly candidate market before we start.
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Search Strategy
Building the right approach around where your candidates actually are.
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Talent Sourcing
Combining local networks with our 150,000+ candidate database.
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Screening & Assessment
Structured interviews and motivation checks before anyone reaches your desk.
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Shortlist & Interview
A shortlist built for fit, not just volume.
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06
Offer & Onboarding
Support through offer, negotiation and start date.
Why Offaly Employers Choose Us
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Access
Direct access to Offaly candidates who aren’t actively job-hunting.
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Time
We manage sourcing and screening so you’re only meeting genuine fits.
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Expertise
Recruiters who understand Offaly’s key industries.
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Reach
A 150,000+ candidate network that goes well beyond the local market.
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Flexibility
Permanent, temporary and executive hiring from one relationship.
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Search Capability
SearchPLUS for the roles advertising alone won’t fill.
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People + Technology
Recruitment technology, run by experienced recruiters, not the other way round.
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Regional Reach
One search across Offaly and the counties around it, not a single-town agency.
What Our Clients Say
“Hartley People were recommended to us as we opened our Waterford office and were instrumental in putting together our team. They were attuned to the specifics of the role and after a brief calibration period sent us exactly the candidate that we look for. They approach recruitment as a partnership and have provided huge value to our company.”
Karl FinnPublicRelay“Hartley People have consistently sourced high calibre candidates for our business for more than a decade. Their recruitment team is always highly knowledgeable in their fields and their service is always excellent. They have become a key vendor for our business in relation to all of our recruitment requirements.”
Declan WalshKeltech Engineering“We have partnered with Hartley People for many years now and would recommend their services to anyone looking for support with their hiring needs. They have a strong track record of securing excellent candidates for us, using sourcing strategies that meet our business requirements and the requirements of the candidate.”
Jill DavidsonTirlánOffaly Hires From Every Direction
We recruit for Offaly employers from our Dublin office, with the reach of a national group headquartered in Waterford. Central counties need searches across four or five counties at once. We keep close track of who’s hiring in Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr, and our consultants travel to meet clients.
20 Harcourt Street
Dublin 2
D02 H364
(01) 525 8506
Get Directions→
Questions Offaly Employers Ask Us
Do you have an office in Offaly?
No. We cover Offaly from our Dublin office at 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 H364, backed by our Waterford head office. Our consultants travel to meet clients across the county.
How long has Hartley People been recruiting?
Over 25 years. Hartley People was founded in Waterford in 2001 and has recruited across Ireland ever since, from our Waterford head office and our Dublin office.
What are the best recruitment agencies in Offaly?
Rather than make that claim for ourselves, we’d point to what’s verifiable: 25+ years recruiting across Ireland, a national candidate network, and recruiters who understand how Offaly’s market connects to the counties around it. We think that’s worth a conversation, but you should judge any agency on its record and how it actually works, not marketing copy.
What industries do you recruit for in Offaly?
We recruit across 19 specialisms in Offaly, including Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction, Logistics & Supply Chain, Accountancy & Finance, HR, Sales, Technology, Life Sciences and Executive Appointments, reflecting the industries that actually drive employment in the county.
Do you recruit across County Offaly, not just Tullamore?
Yes. We recruit across Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry, Clara, Banagher, Ferbane, Kilcormac, Daingean and Rhode, including the Offaly side of Portarlington, and into the wider commuter market around Athlone, Portlaoise, Mullingar and Roscrea.
Do you recruit in Tullamore?
Yes. Tullamore is Offaly’s county town and main employment centre, with the Midland Regional Hospital, the county council, food and drink producers and most professional roles.
Do you recruit in Birr and West Offaly?
Yes. Much of the county’s wind energy work is in West Offaly, and Birr and Banagher also draw candidates from North Tipperary and East Galway.
Can you help us find candidates from outside Offaly?
Yes. We search Athlone, Portlaoise, Kildare and Dublin commuters, and Offaly people working away who’d come home for the right job, using a 150,000+ candidate network and national sourcing capability.
Do you provide permanent recruitment in Offaly?
Yes, through Hartley People Recruitment: permanent hiring across all 19 specialisms, delivered by our recruitment team.
Do you provide temporary staff in Offaly?
Yes, through Flexiforce, part of the same group: temporary staffing, high-volume recruitment and workforce solutions for Offaly employers.
Do you recruit for manufacturers in Offaly?
Yes. Manufacturing is the largest sector for Offaly’s resident workforce, and experienced production, maintenance and quality people are rarely job-hunting, so direct search matters more than advertising.
Do you recruit for retailers in Offaly?
Yes. Wholesale and retail is Offaly’s second-largest employment sector, and we recruit store, warehouse, distribution, transport and area management roles across Tullamore and the wider Midlands.
Do you recruit for healthcare employers in Offaly?
Yes. Health and social work is one of Offaly’s three largest employment sectors, and we help employers compete with the public sector for administrative, finance, facilities and management talent.
Do you provide executive search in Offaly?
Yes, through Burton Sinclair, our specialist executive search business, and through SearchPLUS for senior and hard-to-fill appointments within Hartley People Recruitment.
How do you find passive candidates in Offaly?
Through our 150,000+ candidate network, direct sourcing, LinkedIn Recruiter, market mapping and referral networks, combined with recruiters who understand who’s actually working where across Offaly and the Midlands.
Can you help with difficult-to-fill Offaly roles?
Yes, through SearchPLUS, our specialist sourcing solution for difficult-to-fill, strategic and mid-to-senior appointments where advertising alone won’t reach the right candidates.
What does a recruitment agency in Offaly cost?
Fees depend on the seniority and complexity of the role and which service is involved: permanent, temporary or executive. Get in touch and we’ll talk you through pricing for your specific requirement, no obligation.
How quickly can you start a search?
It depends on the seniority of the role and how niche the requirement is. We’ll give you a realistic timeline once we understand what the hire needs to achieve.
Who Do You Need to Hire in Offaly?
Tell our recruitment team about the role, team or workforce challenge. We’ll talk through the Offaly candidate market, the people you need and the recruitment approach that makes sense for your business.
- 25+ Years Recruiting in Ireland
- 150,000+ Candidate Network
- Permanent | Temporary | Executive
Discuss My Offaly Hiring Requirement
Fill in a few details and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch.