The Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust was a British Government organization providing housing throughout Ireland for the British World War 1 soldiers.   For several years Tom Gallagher liaised with the Trust English Engineers and Contractors keeping these houses in repair and basic habitable accommodation

The Trust never been inclined to spend much money.

He started his career in county Westmeath and Offaly with the erection of isolated rural cottages for both County Councils.  Badly needed social housing at the time.   These houses reflecting the time having neither electricity and decent sanitation, having only outside dry toilets.  Offaly County Council at the time undertook a repair scheme on the County Council existing social housing stock, these houses some going back to the British times requiring major structural refurbishment works to enable same to provide just basic habitable accommodation.  It being necessary to liaise with County Council Engineers and Contractors to achieve a satisfactory result.  

In 1966 he came to Dublin and joined A.J. Jennings & Co Limited Building & Civil Engineering Contractors.  One of the largest Building Contractors in Ireland at the time.    During his time with A.J. Jennings & Company Limited, he became involved with major Building projects.  A.J. Jennings & Company Limited at the time built churches, schools, convents, hotels, theatres and major schemes for Dublin Corporation.  He was involved with the finishing of the Catholic Church in Portlaoise and also the church in Bluebell Inchicore.  A.J. Jennings & Company Limited at this time were undertaking major building contracts in County Kilkenny with the building of the Newpark Hotel, the Brother Ignatius Rice Memorial in Callan Co. Kilkenny and also the Special Schools in Kilkenny City for Dr. Birch, Bishop of Ossory, he having a major input in the construction and completion of these projects.  At this time he was also involved in the building of a national school in Waterford.  In Dublin for A.J. Jennings & Company he was involved with the building of the Christian Brothers Secondary school in Crumlin,  Bank of Ireland on Walkinstown Road,  Blocks of Dublin Corporation Flats at Constitution Hill and Basin Lane.   Later for A.J. Jennings & Co he was involved with the building of a hotel in Westport in Co. Mayo for Jurys and also a hotel in Clifden Co. Galway.

A.J. Jennings & Company became involved with Mr. Daniel Wildenstein when Mr. Wildenstein  purchased Kileen Castle in Co. Meath.   Mr. Wildenstein was at the time the largest Art Dealer in the world being based in Paris and New York, in addition to being a major figure in the bloodstock industry. A.J. Jennings & Company undertook development works at Killeen Castle turning same into a major Stud farm.  On behalf of A.J. Jennings & Co Limited he was involved in the project management of the entire project liaising with Mr. Daniel Wildenstein's Architects & Engineering consultants.

Mr. Wildenstein won many major races at this time with leading rider,  Mr. Yves Saint-Martin, who would win the Prix-De L'Arc De Triomphe for Mr. Wildenstein.

Tom Gallagher would later work for both Mr. Daniel Wildenstein and Mr. Yves Saint-Martin when they would engage T.J. Gallagher & Co to survey properties on their behalf in Ireland.  

In the early 1970's he decided to get involved in speculative house building, joining a recently setup company called Crosspan Developments Limited.  This company was formed by Mr. Michael Shanley a successful Irish Builder in the U.K. and Mrs. Hazel Grace Shanley    This company was set up to build private houses.  A short time after leaving this company, he was contacted by Mr. Shanley requiring his attendance to discuss the overall running of the company in the Burlington Hotel.  After he attended a number of these meetings with Mr. Shanley in the company of some English Management staff, Mr.  Shanley closed down the company and discharged all of the staff.

The work involved the total re-building of some train stations and the re-building of station platforms in others to facilitate the electric train system. The positioning of electric cables to work the electric trains over the rail tracks necessitated the raising of some public road bridges which were too low around Dunlaoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney.  E. Nuzum Limited constructed new road bridges, altered the height of public roads to suit, also amending house gardens to some expensive properties where necessary, replacing feature landscaping etc.

At this time it was normal practice in Ireland to fall Railway platforms towards the train tracks to facilitate rainwater elimination.   However at a Surveyors Conference in Rotterdam he discussed the construction of station platforms with German Railway Engineers who advised against this practice for the safety of wheelchair users.   After he discussed this matter with Mr. Nuzum and CIE engineers all station platforms were constructed to fall away from the train tracks which of course necessitate the provision of additional drainage to dispose of rainwater.

Mr. Edward Nuzum was heavily involved in the ownership of racehorses and was a particular friend of leading racehorse trainer Mr. Vincent O' Brien.   When Mr. O' Brien purchased the Phoenix Park racecourse E. Nuzum Limited undertook the construction of all roads and car park areas in same.  Later when he set up T.J. Gallagher & Company Mr. O' Brien used his services as he was familiar with his work on the Phoenix Park racecourse on behalf of E. Nuzum Limited.  

Later with the vast knowledge and experience he had acquired over the previous years, he decided to start working on his own account.   Having being involved previously with very influential people he had a ready-made client base.  He established T.J. Gallagher & Co to specialize in Building Surveying, Building Engineering and Planning Consultancy providing the following professional services:

Structural Surveys of Domestic & Commercial Properties

Survey / Valuation Reports for Banks & Building Societies

House & Apartment Survey Reports

Certificates of Compliance

Planning Permission Applications

Planning Searches

Design & Detail Drawings for Houses, Extensions& Commercial Buildings

Schedules of Dilapidations

Landlord / Tenant Disputes

Fire Damage and Insurance Claims

He established a good reputation, his client base comprising leading property owners, the financial and legal professions etc.

T.J. Gallagher & Company continues to provide a top class service to its clients, keeping fully in touch with modern technology and keeping abreast with all changes in Planning and Property Law, Building Regulations etc.

This is the aim of T.J. Gallagher & Company as it continues to operate into the future acquiring new top class clients along the way.