Frank Keane Group has just opened its latest Volkswagen dealership in Sandyford, south county Dublin.
The new showroom was opened with a gala event involving 400 invitees, with more than a few celebrities among them.
Passenger and commercial vehicles
Built on a 1.75-square acre site, the new showroom covers 2,500 square metres and is home to both Volkswagen passenger and commercial vehicles. The showroom can house more than 20 vehicles, while there are 15 service ramps and a standalone valeting section.
In total, the Frank Keane Group employs 140 people across its Volkswagen operations, and this latest opening brings the total of employees to 60 in south Dublin, a 140 per cent increase in employment since the Group first opened up in the area six years ago.
Needless to say, the new facility is focusing on electric motoring, with a total of 17 DC and AC chargers on-site, with the design future-proofed so that EV infrastructure can be easily doubled.
On the night, Frank Keane himself - one of the doyens of the Irish motor industry - celebrated his 90th birthday and was gifted a pair of paintings to mark the occasion. Ever the dealer at heart, Mr Keane actually sold a Volkswagen T-Roc to a customer earlier that day. Wonder if they knew who they were dealing with.
More than 50 years in business
The Frank Keane Group can trace its roots back more than 50 years, to 1967 when Mr Keane was awarded the import franchise for BMW. The Group opened its first Volkswagen dealership in 2011, starting with a premises on the Long Mile Road, before opening a flagship showroom in Liffey Valley. The Group now employs more than 400 people across its Irish operations.
Billy Riordan, CEO of Frank Keane Holdings Limited, said: "We have worked tirelessly over the past few years to make this dealership a reality, and we are thrilled to finally be able to share it with our loyal customers. Volkswagen has a long and storied history of producing some of the most reliable and innovative vehicles on the market, from the iconic Beetle to the cutting-edge ID.4 and eye-catching ID Buzz. Volkswagen has always been at the forefront of automotive technology, and we are proud to be able to bring these incredible vehicles to our customers here at our new dealership."
Celebrity Beetle driver
Among the guests on the night was broadcaster Pat Kenny, an old friend of Keane's and a former VW Beetle driver himself.
Alan Bateson, Brand Director for Volkswagen Passenger Cars Ireland, who presented Frank Keane with a pair of specially commissioned paintings in recognition of his landmark birthday, said: "I would like to thank Frank Keane Group for investing in this outstanding facility. Passion, energy and a desire to be the best; just some of the qualities that made Frank Keane a leader in the Irish automotive sector. Despite 50 years of unparalleled success, Frank Keane Group remains at its core a family business and one we are proud to call part of the larger Volkswagen family."