Denis Mahony Ltd is celebrating 60 years in business. The Dublin-based dealer group grew out of the original dealership set up by former Dublin Gaelic Football captain Denis "Danno" Mahony in 1963, employing 12 people at its first car dealership in Glasnevin Hill.
Toyota and Lexus brands
Well, that original 12 is now 100, with new premises being founded in Kilbarrack in 1973 and Exit 5 M50 in 2005. Since 1973, Mahony's has been a Toyota main dealer, and the luxury Lexus brand was added to its portfolio when the first LS400 was launched in 1990. Denis Mahony's son John has been chief executive of the Denis Mahony Group since 1998, while John's son Stephen is managing director of Mahony Fleet, the vehicle leasing and fleet management arm of the company.
Pioneers in leasing
It's not just car sales that Mahony's has been involved with - Denis Mahony Contract Rentals was started by brothers Denis and Tim Mahony in 1966, making them pioneers in the Irish vehicle leasing industry. Subsequently the business entered into a licensee agreement with Avis International to take on the Avis Lease franchise for Ireland in 1991. In 2022 the decision was taken to part ways with Avis, having enjoyed a long and successful relationship, and the leasing arm of the company was re-branded to Mahony Fleet.
Customers at the heart
Speaking about the major milestone for the business, John Mahony chief executive of Denis Mahony Group said: "Our business has gone from strength to strength over the years and we have grown and evolved with the motor industry in Ireland. While our company has progressed over time our philosophy has always remained the same - our customers are at the heart of what we do, and it is their needs that drive us. My father had a real passion for motorcars, and customer satisfaction, and we take great pride in the business that has been built over the last 60 years and we respect the past and our heritage but are always preparing for the future.
"We would like to thank the many valued customers we have served. I also want to express our sincere gratitude to those people that have worked with us across all areas of the business as it is the quality of their work and their commitment that has made it such a success. We enter our seventh decade as an Irish family-owned business in rude health and look forward to the future with optimism."