From a standing start in 2009 to becoming one of Munster’s leading Agricultural Machinery Dealerships, Kearney Bros Agri Ltd has steadily built its reputation on strong customer service, family values and a growing portfolio of machinery franchises.
Based in Acres, Fermoy, Co Cork, the business today employs nine full-time staff and serves farmers and contractors across Cork and the wider Munster region.
While recent years have seen significant growth for the dealership, the foundations of the company remain firmly rooted in the relationships and work ethic established when the business first opened its doors.
Stephen Kearney, Parts Manager at Kearney Bros Agri Ltd, explains that the origins of the company date back to a difficult period for the agricultural machinery sector.
Eoin Kearney and Kevin O’Keeffe are the two Directors of the Company
What began as a new venture during challenging economic times has developed into a well-established dealership supplying tractors, combines, tillage equipment, slurry tankers and a comprehensive parts and service operation.
One of the biggest developments for Kearney Bros Agri in recent years has been the acquisition of the Deutz-Fahr franchise. The dealership officially took on the agency in autumn 2024 and quickly established itself as a significant outlet for the German machinery brand.
According to Stephen, preparation and stock availability played a major role in getting the partnership off to a successful start.
“There was a lot of interest in new tractors last year. We actually had a very good year, sales were very good in general,” he said.
“We got off the ground very well with the Deutz-Fahr agency when we took it on. We would’ve officially had the agency in the autumn of 2024 and we took off very fast on parts. Obviously, we have a good stock when it comes to parts and we also managed to get a few orders in early as well. We had new tractors arriving into stock that November and December for January delivery.”
The early planning paid dividends as demand continued throughout the year.
“From January onwards, they started rolling out the door and we were very lucky that that kept going on for most of the year. So 2025, in general, would’ve been a very good year.”
While 2026 started at a slower pace, Stephen says confidence has returned in recent months.
“Going into ‘26, it has been a small bit slower, but it has started picking up now at this stage. We’ve demo tractors in stock at the moment, which is something that we haven’t done in the last few years. What we’re aiming to do is to put them into farms that haven’t had Deutz-Fahr already. We want to get the brand into yards where they haven’t had Deutz-Fahr before and spread the brand that way.”
The dealership clearly sees considerable potential for growth with the Deutz-Fahr brand, particularly across Cork, one of Ireland’s largest agricultural counties.
The combine market has also provided encouraging signs heading into the 2026 harvest season. Kearney Bros Agri has already sold a number of combine harvesters ahead of the season.
The company is entering the harvest period fully prepared, with machines and parts stock already in place.
“We’re hoping for a good harvest and get a few more combines out there. We have combines in stock ready to go and we’re fully stocked with parts and everything for the season coming.”
For any dealership operating in the tillage sector, a successful harvest period can have a significant impact on machinery demand moving into autumn and winter.
Another major development for the Fermoy-based dealership has been the addition of the Joskin slurry tanker franchise in early 2026. Interestingly, the opportunity emerged from what initially appeared to be a routine customer enquiry.
“A week before Christmas break, we got a couple of brochures in from Joskin and then we got a call in from a customer looking for a tank,” Stephen recalled. “That’s kind of how it started with them.”
The relationship quickly developed, with the Kearney Bros Agri team visiting Joskin’s extensive manufacturing facilities.
“They’re very competitive in their prices and we were actually brought over on a tour of the factories in Belgium and Poland. It was very interesting; they have over 1,000 employees working between five factories and their tanks are really good quality.”
The Joskin franchise gives the dealership another strong product line in a sector that continues to attract significant investment from dairy and livestock farmers.
Alongside tractors and slurry equipment, Kearney Bros Agri is also an agent for Bednar tillage equipment throughout Cork while also covering parts of Tipperary, Kerry and Limerick. The dealership sees significant opportunities for growth in the tillage machinery sector and plans to place greater emphasis on the brand during the second half of 2026.
Disc cultivators and other tillage equipment are expected to form an important part of the company’s autumn sales strategy as farmers evaluate machinery requirements following harvest.
“Later on in the autumn, we will be hoping to approach a few potential customers about Bednar disc equipment ” Stephen said.
While machinery franchises and product ranges continue to expand, Stephen believes the Company’s reputation ultimately comes down to one key factor, Customer service, if you don’t have the correct service, they’re not going to come back.”
That philosophy extends beyond the dealership itself and includes the support provided by manufacturers and distributors.
Stephen is particularly complimentary of the support Kearney Bros Agri has received from Deutz-Fahr since becoming a dealer.
“Billy Cunningham, who is the After-Sales Manager for Ireland with Deutz-Fahr, is very approachable. It’s good to have a good contact with Deutz-Fahr,” he pointed out.
For Kearney Bros Agri, that level of manufacturer backing directly benefits customers.
As the business moves through 2026, the focus remains firmly on growth while maintaining the customer support that has helped establish the dealership’s reputation over the past 17 years.
The immediate priorities include a successful harvest season, additional combine sales, further expansion of the Deutz-Fahr tractor customer base and increased penetration for the Bednar tillage range.
“We’ll be definitely hoping to gain a bit more ground with the Deutz-Fahr brand around Cork,” Stephen said.
Deutz Fahr is one of the top/well established brand names and we intend to push for more growth in Cork
For a business that began during the uncertainty of 2009, Kearney Bros Agri has come a long way. With nine full-time staff, an expanding machinery portfolio and ambitious plans for further growth, the Fermoy dealership appears well positioned to continue building its presence across Munster for years to come.
Kearney Bros Agri Ltd.,
Acres,
Fermoy,
County Cork.
Tel: (025) 32105
Email:
[email protected] – Eoin Kearney (087 2864740)
[email protected]
Web: kearneyagri.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kearneybrosagriltd
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 14 No 2, Summer 2026
