The bit between the teeth
Amy poses with her chariot 
Caoimhe Moore 
Caoimhe wants to suceed in this industry
When I arrive on site just outside Dungiven, I am warmly greeted by Darren McLean, who is a construction manager for Wills Bros.
He is looking after this job and the N5 contract in Westport. He is working for the Mayo-based firm for the past 16 years and with his many decades experience he has seen a lot of machine operators come and go. On this construction project in Derry there is over one hundred machines of varying sizes hard at work. I ask him about the role his lady operators play on this project. “Well I think for me it is the first time I have had so many female operators on the one job at the same time.
They all started doing the traffic controls, but they all showed great determination to move up the chain and really wanted to get their tickets and an opportunity to operate the machines.
When they got qualified, I put them on rollers to start with and then they moved onto dumpers, and I must honestly say they have been brilliant and would put some of the lads to shame. The reason I say this is because they are excellent at doing their maintenance and daily checks.
The girls really do have the bit between the teeth. Their timekeeping is exemplary, and they are gentle with their machines. They look after their kit and do not dog it. They seem to have more pride in what they do, maybe they have something to prove to the lads. We have four female operators on this job but if I could get another four, I would hire them immediately”, he said.
I ask Darren does having the girls on site create a better working atmosphere? “It doesn’t create any problems for me and if anything, it encourages the lads to work that bit harder. I think it creates a bit of friendly competition and in fairness the guys have really welcomed the girls on the job and are always there to give some friendly advice. I think this is really a step in the right direction and I would encourage any woman who likes the idea of this as a career not to hesitate and sign up, it is a great job”, he concluded.
