Cyril O’Sullivan Tractors & Farm Machinery (O’Sullivan Tractors) has earned an enviable reputation for supplying quality new and used tractors to farmers across Ireland. The family-run business also specialises in service and repairs, and provides a breakdown service in counties Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Clare.
Are you in the market for a premium brand used tractor with low hours, full-service history, is high spec’ and in mint condition? Then look no further than Cyril O’Sullivan Tractors & Farm Machinery which has the tractor to suit your exact requirements.
Strategically located just off the M8 motorway on the Cork-Limerick border near Mitchelstown, O’Sullivan Tractors has evolved from being a main dealer to importing used tractors with low hours as well as front loaders. The dealer sources most of its stock from mainland Europe and is committed to supplying immaculate tractors to customers in Ireland and even in the UK.
The business held a number of dealerships before deciding to go down the import route. It started out as a John Deere dealership in 1984 before changing to Renault four years later. It held the Zetor franchise from 1991 to 2013 and Kubota from 2007 to ’13. It then imported Ursus for a few years, but a growing demand for tractors with higher specification brought O’Sullivan Tractors to where it is today.
“The market has changed and we’ve had to change with it,” says Tony O’Sullivan, who runs the business with his father and founder Cyril O’Sullivan.
“With manufacturers now setting the price of a product, the small dealers are being squeezed and that’s why we’ve gone down this road. We initially imported mainly Ursus, but while they’re a good solid tractor and we continue to sell a lot of them, the problem with them is that they’re quite basic and don’t meet the requirements of many of our customers in terms of specifications.
“Many farmers are now looking for tractors which are high spec’ and come with all the extras. They’re prepared to pay more for the leading brands and that’s what we cater for.”
As much as 90% of the tractors are imported from mainland Europe, with the UK accounting for the other 10%.
“We’re one of only a handful of dealers bringing in tractors from Europe,” Tony points out.
“Most imports into this country are from the UK, but what we have found with the UK market is that much of the stock is 200hp and over. As a dealer based in the heart of the Golden Vale, we supply mainly to dairy farmers who want a tractor in the 70-180hp bracket. You have to go to places like Germany, Austria, Holland and Belgium to source the type of tractor that suits their needs.”
The benefits of importing tractors from the Continent don’t stop there as Tony explains:
“Typically, the hours are very, very low and the specifications are higher. The hours are low because most of the tractors are only involved in seasonal work. Furthermore, the tyres aren’t worn because the tractors aren’t driven on roads.
“We buy straight off the farm which means the hours are completely untouched and also off main dealers, so hours have not been tampered with. The tractors also come with a full-service history, owner’s manual and are in super condition. They’re generally that bit older, going back as far as 2011. There are also new and demo tractors available with a variety of different specifications.
“All our tractors are workshop-prepared and include all filters / oils exchanged, washing, cleaning, valeting, dyno testing, calibrations etc. This ensures the best service from the machine. Finance is also arranged by us.
Tony continues: “The tractors we import are hard to come by. Their condition and low hours are big selling points. The hours are typically between 500 and 5,000. The European average is 300 hours a year compared to 1,000 hours a year here in Ireland. We can source any brand – New Holland, Case, Steyr, Massey Ferguson, Zetor etc – and are committed to giving the customer value-for-money.
“And because Irish and European hitches are different, we fit Dromone hydraulic hitches to the tractors we sell.”
Cyril O’Sullivan Tractors & Farm Machinery also imports Agromasz front loaders. Based on the old Trima loader, the loaders have a capacity of 200-1,650kg and a lifting height of 1.8-4m for all types of tractors. The Polish brand is used for quick and convenient loading and unloading, and offers excellent quality and value-for-money.
It is one of the few garages specialising solely in tractors and loaders.
“A lot of our time is spent sourcing, repairing and selling tractors so that we can offer our customers the best possible solution for their farm. We sell a limited amount of machinery and offer parts for all brands of tractors. We advertise on our website www.osullivantractors.ie and also on Done Deal. This is updated regularly.
When it comes to servicing and repairs, customers are assured of personal attention and a service second to none. Four mechanics, including Tony, are employed in the workshop which boasts a wide range of specialist tools to service and repair agricultural machinery. In addition, O’Sullivan Tractors provides a breakdown service.
“We have a mobile recovery service and also have our own truck for delivering tractors to customers. We also provide courtesy machines which ensures there is no downtime for the farmer,” adds Tony, whose mother does all the accounts.
The Mitchelstown-based dealer would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers and suppliers for their continued support, and its staff for their dedication, hard work and skill.
Cyril O’Sullivan Tractors & Farm Machinery
Kilglass,
Mitchelstown,
Co. Cork
P67 AK63.
Telephone: 025 24816 / 087 3976718
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 9 No 2, March/April 2021
Cyril O’Sullivan Tractors & Farm Machinery
