J McChesney & Son of Clontibret, Co. Monaghan has been crowned Opel Dealer of the Year 2022 at the annual conference of Opel dealers in Ireland, this year held at The Heritage hotel in Laois.
Dealer principals Brian and Wendy McChesney accepted the award, with the win coming as the firm celebrates 75 years in business, having been founded by John McChesney in 1947. The company has been selling Opel cars and vans in Monaghan since 1977.
"We are simply delighted to be bringing the Opel Dealer of the Year award home to County Monaghan," said Brian McChesney.
"It's rewarding to know that our team's continued efforts are recognised by the distributor and we can't accept the award without acknowledging our very valued customers. We thank them sincerely for all their support throughout the years and we very much look forward to seeing everyone in 2023 at J McChesney & Son."
Retail Sales Dealer of the Year
It was a big night for Central Motors of Mohill, Co. Leitrim, which scooped the Retail Sales Dealer of the Year award at the conference. The business was started in 1972 by Patsy Walpole, taking on the Opel franchise in 1984.
"Paul Walpole [sales manager] and his team have demonstrated not only exemplary customer satisfaction results, but they have also critically far-surpassed their 2022 sales targets to deliver a strong county market share this year," said Richard Dillon, head of retail sales at Opel Ireland.
"There can be no doubt Central Motors is a worthy winner of the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year 2022 accolade and I congratulate the team whole-heartedly."
Aftersales Dealer of the Year
The Opel Aftersales Dealer of the Year title went to John Kelly Opel in Waterford, with a particular shout-out by dealer principal Jim Boland going towards parts manager Derek Browne, service manager Billy O'Rourke and parts executive Derek Ryan.
"I am absolutely delighted," said Boland "to be bringing the Opel Aftersales Dealer of the Year 2022 award home to Waterford. It is indeed gratifying to know that my team's continued efforts are recognised by the distributor, and I personally thank Derek Browne, Billy O'Rourke, Derek Ryan, Martin Doyle and all the team for their absolute dedication to our company and Opel."
The team came in for particular praise too from Garreth Wilson, head of aftersales at Opel Ireland.
"Derek Browne, Billy O'Rourke, Derek Ryan and their team have demonstrated a sure-footed performance across eight crucial aftersales KPIs [key performance indicators]. They have delivered a strong Opel Parts performance again in 2022, embraced our new Eurorepar all-brands parts programme, fully immersed themselves in our training schedule and garnered strong customer retention through a range of Opel Aftersales marketing platforms. Their engagement with customers and us, the distributor, is class-leading."
One of Ireland's oldest dealerships
John Kelly Waterford is one of Ireland's oldest existing car dealers, having taken over the garage of one of Ireland's very first dealers William Peare of Catherine Street in Waterford, in 1917 when the tough economic conditions of World War I, including petrol rationing forced Peare (who had been in business since 1900) into liquidation. While the premises of John Kelly Opel is now on the outskirts of Waterford, Peare's building, a protected structure today, is still occupied by a used car dealership, Martin Barrett Car Sales.