Five businesses from Galway are among those from Ireland, Britain, and Europe exhibiting at the 2016 Auto Trade EXPO in Citywest in Dublin this weekend (October 22 and 23 ).
Acorn Insurance, Kevin Burke Tyres, Mileage Tyres, John Casserly Engineering Supplies, and Park Tyres Ltd (Giuliano ) from Galway will be showcasing their wares over a busy two days. The event attracted 5,000 visitors last year.
This is the third successive year the Auto Trade EXPO has taken place and it has grown in size and visitor numbers year-on-year.
From this year the Auto Trade EXPO will be a biennial exhibition (taking place next in 2018 ), so a very large attendance is expected for the largest auto trade exhibition held in Ireland.
Galway well represented
Coinciding with the EXPO is the prestigious Irish Auto Trade Awards 2017 dinner, taking place in Citywest Hotel on Saturday. The awards are a celebration of excellence in the Irish auto trade in Ireland, a sector that accounts for more than 35,000 jobs.
Galway is well represented with several retailers having won Connacht-Ulster Regional Awards and hoping to win the National Award on the night.
Top Part, Galway is the Connacht-Ulster Motor Factor of the Year, while Frank Byrne’s Autobody Repairs, Oranmore, is the Connacht-Ulster Bodyshop of the Year winner.
Donnellan Auto Services, Oranmore, is the Connacht-Ulster Independent Workshop of the Year. Colm Quinn BMW on the Tuam Road is the Connacht-Ulster Aftersales Main Dealer of the Year, while Kenny Galway has won the Connacht-Ulster Trade Parts Main Dealer of the Year.
In the manufacturer and distributors categories, Mileage Tyres and Kevin Burke Tyres are shortlisted for Tyre Distributor Of The Year, Park Tyres in Galway for Tyre Shop Tools & Equipment Supplier of the Year, and John Mannion Truck & Trailer Components in Claregalway for Transport Parts Distributor Of The Year.
Previous Irish Auto Trade regional and national award winners from Galway have included: Frank Byrne’s Autobody Repairs, Top Part, Galway, Moorpark Galway, Bradley Galway, Donnellan Auto Services, and Galway Truck & Van Centre.
Retail auto businesses undergo a rigorous selection process that includes phone and personal mystery shops before being finally adjudicated on. Manufacturer and distributor companies were shortlisted based on votes from readers of Irish Auto Trade Journal.