Today we’d like to introduce you to Owen McDermott.
Hi Owen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to this country in 1993 with $500 in my pocket. I couldn’t afford the fare to bring my future wife of our two boys so she had to stay behind in Ireland until I could save up some money to pay for her ticket!
I slept in a rental car for a week until I could get somewhere cheap to stay and get a job. I started working for a plumbing company in South Florida soon after and eventually saved enough to bring my future wife over to start a new life here.
I couldn’t afford a car at first so I bought a cheap bike in the local Walmart and cycled to work and back (about 6 miles) every day for about 6 months!
In the meantime I became a service plumber for the company and managed to save up some money for a car and now we could move out of shared accommodation into our very own apartment!
After a couple of years I decided to buy an old van and go to work for myself after moving from Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. I got my plumbing license in 1996 and started Leprechaun Plumbing that summer just before my first son was born!
It has been a long road from those early days and a lot of water has gone under the bridge but I eventually ended up here in beautiful North Carolina about 7 years ago. I went to work for a local water filtration company for a couple of years to get going again and with time and patience once again I started my own plumbing business and called it “Right First Time Plumbing”!
I just love working with people and helping them to solve their plumbing problems and I am so grateful to be able to do what I love doing and hopefully impart these many years of experience to my son who is a fine plumber in his own right!
We live in Carrboro and feel so blessed to find such a wonderful place to live.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can’t say it’s been a smooth road but nothing worthwhile is ever going to be easy.
Balancing work and family were particularly difficult especially running a plumbing company with late nights and weekends to deal with.
I had some health issues for a while whereby I couldn’t work for a while which put a lot of stress on me and my wife to be honest.
We missed our families a lot back in Ireland even though we would visit whenever we could get back.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been a plumber all my life and have practiced my trade in a few places over the years.
I obtained my plumbing and heating license in Ireland originally and from there I went on to get licensed in Florida, Colorado, Georgia and North Carolina!
I have been working in the plumbing industry in one form or other for well over 30 years and I’m still going!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Outdoor Lifestyle: Raleigh has an extensive greenway system, numerous parks, and easy access to both the mountains and the coast. There is a thriving craft brewery scene, diverse dining options, and free admission to several high-quality museums which is fantastic nowadays.
High humidity: Raleigh can be intensely hot and humid, and the pollen count in the spring is a significant challenge for those with seasonal allergies.
Rising Cost of Living: While still more affordable than many major tech hubs, housing prices and rent have climbed significantly in recent years and I noticed that young people are struggling to find an affordable place of their own.
Pricing:
- Flat rate
Contact Info:
