AS rugby fans prepare to raise the roof for Ireland this weekend, employees of a Newtownabbey plumbing and drainage company has helped - literally - to put the roof over their heads in the refurbished Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stadium in London.
Employees of Brett Martin spent 12 weeks working on the 44,000 sq metre transparent canopy, and whether or not Ireland charge to victory against Italy on Sunday, they will certainly be cheering for a job well done.
The company, well known for manufacturing specialist polycarbonate roof lighting and glazing materials for the construction sector, was subcontracted to supply the polycarbonate roof lights for what is the longest cantilevered roof in the world.
Redeveloped by main contractor Balfour Beatty on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation, the tensile roof has been specially designed to enhance the spectator experience during the Rugby World Cup.
Brett Martin's team, headed up by technical services manager Michael Johnston, worked alongside architects Populous to develop a light-weight design solution offering the necessary versatility to suit the complex concentric structure of the new stadium roof.
A total of 4,484 individual longlife clear polycarbonate roof light sheets, manufactured in a specified stadia profile and cut to size within Brett Martin's production facility, helped make this architectural vision a reality according to production manager William Martin.
"We are incredibly proud to have supplied a critical component in the construction of the roof canopy in the London Olympic Stadium Transformation Project," Mr Martin said.
"The project is a feat of production and delivery logistics. Marlon CS Longlife polycarbonate roof lights transmit over 90 per cent of natural daylight to create an open-air feel and provide a stunning backdrop for the live sporting events."
