Celebrating ten years in business this year, Auto Dealer Keelcom VTN, Ballyconnell has found the going as tough as any outfit over the past two years but have still managed to keep busy in the process.
Based in Rakeelan, Ballyconnell, just off the Derrylin road, the company's store manager is Raymond Fitzpatrick. The Ballinagh man was not involved from the start, when Tony Doonan started the business in 2000, but has been the manager since Ireland AD in purchased the business in 2004.
AD Ireland is a part of AD International, the leading independent automotive trade group in Europe. AD Ireland, formerly Christopher Huet Distribution, has been active on the Irish market place since 1974 and joined AD International in 2001. Today the network of the company spreads across the country.
The company is Ireland's number one motor factor and distributors of quality motor spares, car and commercial vehicle parts, and have been supplying motor components for European and Asian cars for over 30 years.
"The business is established since 2000 and was owned by Tony Doonan, who sold to Ireland AD in 2004," explained Ballyconnell branch manager, Raymond Fitzpatrick.
"AD Keelcom have 18 branches spread throughout Ireland; three in Dublin, two in Cork, two in Galway, two in Mayo and two in Tipperary, with one each in Limerick, Carlow, Arklow, Waterford, Kilkenny, Laois, Sligo and Cavan."
At present, AD Keelcom's Cavan branch employs nine local staff, eight of which are full-time, and receive a majority of their business from in and around the west Cavan and Fermanagh border area.
Raymond explains what they are all about by saying: "We are a test centre for heavy and light commercial vehicles. We also have a tyre bay and do wheel balance and tracking. We are suppliers of all truck and trailer and car parts as well.
"In the sales department we would mainly sell filter brakes, engine oil and things like that. We are also a brake re-lining centre here as well for commercial brakes," he added.
Like every good established Irish company should, AD Keelcom VTN, Ballyconnell have a GAA member working in their staff.
"I use to play a bit underage," said Raymond. "Cormac Smith is a Salesman here and he is involved with the Lacken club. He plays with Lacken juniors and they won the Division Five league title last year. He is also involved in coaching the ladies' team there as well."
Cormac, who is beside Raymond just outside Ballinagh, won an All County Football League Division Five title with Lacken Celtic during 2009. Cormac played in goal throughout a season when the Celts topped Division Five all year long and met Ballyhaise in the division final.
After a draw against Mickey Graham's team the first day out in Drumalee, the two sides met again for the replay at Our Lady of Lourdes Park, Mullahoran. In an enthralling and dramatic final, it took a last-minute goal from minor star Niall McKiernan to clinch the title for Lacken on a score-line of 3-9 to 1-11 in the wet and windy conditions after extra-time.
Cormac also enjoyed further success in 2009, when he helped coach the club's ladies football team to a memorable senior league and championship double, after they'd defeated defending champions Lurgan in the county championship final at Virginia.
While Cormac enjoyed successful times on the field for Lacken last year, the company he works for - along with almost every other company in the country - found it tough and is still finding it tough to keep the money coming in and the losses down to a minimum.
"Obviously there has been a downturn and a lot of businesses have been suffering," said Raymond.
"On the truck end, we've definitely slowed down but sales of car parts are up because people are keeping their cars longer now, obviously because they can't afford to buy new ones."
However, business isn't all that bad for the Ballyconnell-based VTN. Through a reliable service down the years, they have obtained loyal customers which have stayed with have stayed with the Ad Keelcom service, despite a change in ownership and a more attractive tax price just a few miles north across the border.
"Quinn would be a good customer of ours," Raymond confirmed. "So would Peter McVitty, Joe McGovern transport, Pro Trams in Longford, McCaffrey's quarries and Trotters in Manorhamilton. There are a few local car garages that are good customers of ours as well."
Regular business from the above companies have kept AD Keelcom solvent throughout the though times and with word of a pick up on the horizon, Raymond and co have looked to hit the ground running in 2010.
Since Tony Doonan opened the company's doors all of ten years ago, Larry Healy has been the company's VTN manager. Larry is from Kinawley, Co Fermanagh and continues to make the trip six days a week to work for the company which he has played as big apart as any rising from the ground in the short space of a decade.
Even in the harshest of times, Larry was upbeat about the trading done in AD Keelcom's Ballyconnell branch last year, stating: "On the lorries I'd say we'd be holding our own."
As for comparisons to business stats from the first month in 2009 to January 2010, Larry sees an increase, which he hopes is a sign of better times to come for the company which has established itself as apart one of Ballyconnell's many businesses.
"The most we would test in a month would be between 100 and 104 and the least I'd say would have been 60. That would be lorries, trailers and buses - heavy commercial vehicles," Larry explained.
Larry echoes his colleague Raymond in speaking about the company's loyal customers, but does admit that the attraction of lower taxes across the border has been something which has affected them more than anything.
However, the Fermanagh gentleman is still confident that AD Keelcom VTN, Ballyconnell will keep busy thanks to a sufficient and reliable service which has given them a glowing reputation over the years.
"Joe McGovern transport and McVitty transport - they would be the main two. Martin's coaches would be another. We still do a bit of work with the Quinn Group as well," he said.
"I'm with this company and the company before that the last ten years, when Tony Doonan use to own the company. He's a Ballyconnell and still owns the premises, so that still plays its part as well."
Tony's continued involvement has helped to keep Ballyconnell's businesses coming out the Derrylin road to Rakeelan, but it has been the devoted work of Raymond, Larry and Co that has helped AD Keelcom VTN, Ballyconnell to hold their own. Tweet

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