Michelin visit confirms commitment to Ireland
Michelin has reinforced its commitment to Ireland during a visit by the manufacturer’s Head of Communications Phil Baldock.
Mr Baldock told TyreTrade.ie that the Irish market was important to Michelin, and that it was proud to contribute to the community here.
Michelin is also proud to be the only tyre brand to maintain a production facility in Ireland, Mr Baldock said.
He said: “The truck tyres made at our factory in Ballymena are sold in Ireland and the UK and across the world.”
“We employ hundreds of people in an area that is heavily dependent on outside investment, and we are committed to contributing to the communities around our factories.”
“Across the island as a whole, our commitment to providing the very best levels of service, professionalism and expertise at retail level was recognised in the recent awarding of Michelin Certified Centre status to 11 Irish tyre dealers. In total, these operate 13 individual outlets across the island, north and south.”
The 11 Michelin Certified Centre dealers are Simon Allen (Global Tyres, Carrickmacross and Dundalk), Robert Ferguson (Discount Tyres, Blanchardstown and Naas Tyre & Auto Services), Phil Flynn (Dungarvan Tyre Centre), Thom Fox (Ballinasloe Tyre Centre), Robert Frazer (Carryduff Tyres), Eamonn Gleeson (Eamonn Gleeson Tyres, Cahir), Wilson Mackey (A One Tyres, Dromore), Michael McGrath (Safeway Tyres, Ennis), Patsy Meyler (Meyler’s Tyres, Wexford), Cormac Nolan (Nolan Tyres, Ballon, Co. Carlow) and Alistair Simpson (Tyre Safety Centre, Cookstown).
Mr Baldock also highlighted the success of Ireland’s dining and accommodation providers in Michelin’s world-famous guides, with more than 300 restaurants and hotels featuring in the 2014 Michelin Guide of Great Britain and Ireland, and 27 entries in the Michelin Eating Out In Pubs Guide 2014.
Mr Baldock added: “The guides are a reflection of quality and consistency – attributes we also apply to making tyres.”
A keen hurling fan and a regular visitor here, Mr Baldock was accompanied by Michelin’s recently-appointed PR Manager David Johnson. Mr Johnson is a former a former political and business journalist.