On the go nearly 25 years now, Interparts Drumalee Ltd continues to be one of the main DAF commercial dealership in the country. Breffni Blue takes a look at what the company has to offer and how far they have come under the ownership of former Leitrim great and Drumalee clubman Joe Gormley. Since first setting up camp along the Dublin Road in 1986, Interparts have risen to become so many things in that time under the ownership of Joe Gormley Manager Robbie Malone has been onboard with the company since 1996 and has played his part in overseeing proceedings to help the company get to where it is today. So, what exactly is it that Interparts do? The answer is many. Interparts currently employs 21 full-time employees to help the company act primarily as a Vehicle Test Centre for both light and heavy commercials, but they also offer a large selection of parts for all makes of trucks and trailers. The parts department stocks a large selection of parts for all makes of trucks and trailers and the company provides a delivery service that covers the northeast, northwest and midlands region, as well as this the parts personnel have a wealth of experience and provide a fast efficient service to the customers. Truck and trailer spares, a large selection of oils, filters, batteries, springs, bearings, brake shoes, brake linings and brake drums, lights, spot lights, lamps, shocks, airbags, clutch kits, all hydraulic hosing, fittings, mirrors, wipers, mudflaps, mudwings, number plates, reversing cameras, markings, reconditioned engines, gearboxes and differentials are to name but a few of Interparts' range of spares, according to the company's website. As well as this, Interparts Drumalee Ltd. offer a vast range of services to the people of Cavan, such as breakdown and toe in service, and some of the county's main companies. Their customers' support reads like the who's who with regards to some of the leading employers in the northern region. ESB, Eircom, Glanbia, Quinn Group, Lakeland Dairies and Donegal Creameries are all on board with Interparts because of the competent service the company provides, and now in these testing the times those above titles will almost certainly be invaluable to the company. Vehicle testing for both light and heavy commercials, tachograph, vehicle plating and a large crew of highly trained fully-qualified mechanics with a great deal of experience, and offer aluminum welding and fabricating on request just about rounds it up for Interparts. To that end, the company has certainly come a long way since Joe Gormley first started the things up from his home in Drumalee back in 1984. Joe would have started the business first from his house in and around the mid-80s and built up the business from there to become one of the first businessmen to buy a site on the Dublin Road. He built from there and began selling second-hand trucks and doing repairs to start off with. To purchase the land along the N3 was a cunning move from a business perspective, but does a wily old fox, both on and off the football field, like Gormley no any better? In 1971, Joe Gormley began his intercounty career with Leitrim and it continued right through to '78, during which time he spent three years in America, from 1972 -'75. While in the States he played for in his native colours of Leitrim, one of the top teams at the time. Players he recalls playing in New York and for Leitrim at that time include the likes of Pat O'Neill of Dublin, Eugene Sheelin of Louth, Mickey Dolan of Longford, Fergus Gordon of Down, Bobby Miller of Laois and Mickey Niblock of Derry. A native of Ballinamore town, Joe's work in 1979 in the motor business took him from the capital in Dublin up north slightly to Cavan and as a result he made the transfer from his home club, O'Heslin's, in Leitrim to a small club by the name of Drumalee on the outskirts of Cavan town. Gormley's five-year stint with the Cavan club proved to be nothing other than perfect timing on his part. During his time with the St Felim's Park outfit the Leitrim man helped Drumalee to two senior county finals, the first in 1981 and then again three years later in '84. He particularly enjoyed playing alongside such great Breffni footballers as the Leddy brothers, Ollie and Sean, the O'Keeffe brothers, Michael Greenan, Paddy McGovern, and the Costello brothers, all of which were former county players with Cavan. As well as being a formidable player on the field during his playing days, Gormley has proven himself to be a success in business as well. Since being setup in 1984, Interparts Cavan Limited has certainly gone from strength to strength, and Joe's experience in the trade has been invaluable. After spending his apprenticeship days in the parts department of J. Harris Hino in Dublin, Joe quickly learned all about the trade. Ironically, his early training was in the accountancy field where he spent three years there before moving on to Bolton Street College of Technology in Dublin studying Mechanical Engineering. With a large measure of both skills under his belt, the bold Joe was well equipped to service the needs of discerning customers. Those consumers in search of spare parts for trucks and all other kinds of machinery needed to look no further than Interparts Cavan. Considering Joe's great football tradition, it comes as no surprise that he had first employed Phelim Costello, a former Cavan county footballer, as General Manager long before Malone had come along and moved up the ranks to establish himself in the role. Phelim was there from the start with Interparts when the company first moved to its current site along the Dublin Road and since then Joe has employed such past notable footballers as Brian Breen of Leitrim, Ray Fitzpatrick of Lacken, PJ Donohoe of Kingscourt, Gerry McCrudden of Ballyhaise, Mickey Galligan of Crosserlough, John Ashe of Moylough Slashers, and Mary McConnon of the Lavey camogie club. Joe himself retired from competitive football two years into setting up his Cavan business in 1986 and got involved in coaching in Drumalee for a period, simply because he felt it was right for him to give something back to a club he so cherished in his time playing with them. To this day he believes the experience was good to him. In 1993, Joe was offered a chance to go back and manage his native club in Ballinamore and spent several years with the O'Heslin's. Now Joe Gormley is all but semi-retired with one of the main DAF truck dealerships in the country to boast, leaving things very much in the hands of the reliable Malone and other heads at company to help run and maintain. Tweet

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