Kerry Coaches adds to young fleet

Killarney based Kerry Coaches continues fleet renewal and builds golfing brand.

(click on any picture for fullsize version)

The last 10 years has seen a significant change in the Irish coaching industry from using mainly midlife imports from the UK to a situation now where operators large and small now buy new most of the time.

More recently, there has been a considerable movement up the scale in quality terms to the more highly specified end of the market, with the corporate coaching market growing rapidly.

Killarney based Kerry Coaches are a good example of the new face of the industry, having worked hard to build up a good fleet of luxury coaches with a low age profile, usually adding between 4 and 7 new vehicles to the fleet each year. The operator is based in a modern depot on the outskirts of the town, and leverages the depot for extra income by providing overnight parking, refuelling and servicing facilities for the many coaches from operators around Europe who pass through Killarney in the tourist season.

The company caters for inbound tourism and hires with its own fleet, and also the corporate sector, and has been particularly successful in the golf tour market, where it has developed its “Jerry Quinlans Celtic Golf ” brand. Coaches used for this are highly specified, with full aircon, catering, entertainment systems, leather seats etc. Seen above is 08-KY-555, one of a couple of new VanHools bought for the golf tours this year.

In 2007 Kerry added significantly to their main fleet with a mix of Setras and Vanhools – three of the 07 Setras are seen above.

Like most of the operatorsw at the quality end of the spectrum, Kerry Coaches have enjoyed the boom years, but are confident that they can continue to do well despite uncertain times ahead by investing in their people, vehicles and delivering a quality product to the customer.

Long may they continue.

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