Modern Tyres celebrates 60 years in business
Modern Tyres is celebrating 60 years in business this year. To mark this momentous occasion the company hosted a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the K Club, Co. Kildare for 120 of its Branch Managers and partners in early January.
TV presenter Anna Daly compèred the event and was supported by former Munster and Ireland rugby legend Donncha O’Callaghan.
“Celebrating 60 years in this business is a testament to our commitment to our customers and community and our dedicated staff,” a spokesperson for the Byrne family said. “We are excited to celebrate this milestone with those who have supported us throughout the years.”
Modern Tyres was founded in 1965 by the late Jimmy Byrne, who was originally from Dublin, but the company’s roots stretches back to 1962, when Jimmy established a remould manufacturing factory in Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, which brought considerable employment to the local area.
The company opened its first retail depot in the Old Railway Yard in Enniskillen in 1965. Further expansion came in 1975, when Jimmy, who always had an eye for an opportunity opened a second premises in Newry, Co. Down, which proved to be the catalyst for growth in Northern Ireland.
In the Republic, Jimmy established the D26 Tyre Co., which secured the distribution rights for Vredestein in Ireland, and serviced the company’s burgeoning whole-sale business.
Up until his death in 2022, Jimmy was to the fore in the growth of the company which now has 50 retail outlets and covers most parts of Ireland.
Nowadays the company covers five main sectors: Retail, Wholesale, Fleet, Car Dealer and online B2C.
Modern Tyres, which has a full time staff of 320, has come a long way from the early days at the Old Railway Yard in Enniskillen and is looking forward to the future.
Padraig Cosgrave (Castlebar), Gerry Mullan (Bridge St. Newry), Jim Parker (Ballynahinch), Scott Pickering (Banbridge), Alastair Murdock (Lurgan), Graham Doherty (Portadown), Gerry Heaney (Ballyclare), Donncha O’Callaghan, Mickey Hoy (Queen Elizabeth Rd, Enniskillen), Anna Daly, Joe Carroll (Cork), Thomas Sloan (Castlereagh Rd, Belfast), Greg Hume (Westwood, Belfast), Jim Murphy (Carnbane, Newry), Darren Walker (Dromore Rd Omagh) and John O’Kane (Coleraine).