At Monaghan-based DM Tours they’ll take the hassle out of organising your ideal agricultural trip. Your journey is planned by professionals with years of experience and nothing is left to chance because Managing Director, Damian McKenna, understands every aspect of the agricultural tour business from the ground up.
It is by accident rather than design that Damian McKenna finds himself at the helm of the leading agricultural tours specialist company in Ireland. By his own admission he would probably still be milking cows morning, noon and night if fate hadn’t intervened to take him on a different career path.
“I make no bones about saying that I probably wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for the 1994/95 scenario and the over production of the milk quota. A small farm with a large number of cows couldn’t survive in those circumstances.
“I came from a dairy background and also worked as an Agricultural Contractor from 1975 to the mid-nineties when I started driving tour coaches and also refrigerated haulage driving across Europe.
“It was around that time that I went back to college to do a Failte Ireland ‘All Ireland’ tour guide course. I started working as a tour guide for Brendan Tours and CIE Tours but I always ran a few agricultural tours on the side. I officially started DM Tours in 2002.”
Now a division of O’Hanrahan Travel, the multi-award winning travel agent in Monaghan, DM Tours is a fully licenced travel company to protect you and your tour every time you book. They cater both for individuals as well as for clubs, associations and groups who share similar interests.
Tours can be tailor made around any exhibition, show or event in whatever month they take place and can be of any length to suit your budget and tastes, either by coach or by air.
In addition, they can help arrange private visits to special collections and/or archives to add to the enjoyment of the tour. For special interest groups, Damian and his team organise annual tours to Techno Classica Essen, Cambridge Machinery and Vintage Sales, the Great Yorkshire Show, the Royal Welsh Show, the World Ploughing Championships and EuroTier & Energy Decentral in Hanover to name but a few.
As an extra benefit, they have numerous contacts in the farming community in Great Britain and Europe so that they can arrange visits to ‘real’ working family farms (not hobby farms) to see your chosen machinery or breed, first hand.
“We’ve been up and running for 14 years now and with my experience in agriculture and coaches, it would be fair to say that nothing or no destination is beyond me anymore”, Damian remarked.
“We pride ourselves on our efficiency, professionalism and value for money. If we say we’re leaving a hotel at 6.45am, we leave at 6.45am, we don’t leave at 6.50am. That’s the way we run our tours, everything is to the itinerary, not to spoil the enjoyment of others on the tour. We always make that absolutely clear when people book with us.
“We hired in coaches from 2002 up to 2013 when we purchased our first coach,” Damian revealed.
“We’re now running a fleet of luxury coaches, including new 2016, 55 seater tri-axle coaches which are just out on the road since April.”
With 10 full-time and two part-time employees on their payroll, it is their meticulous attention to detail that separates DM Tours & Coach Hire Ltd from their competitors. For their customers this means top quality service in every respect, with comfort, safety and value for money their top priorities.
At DM Tours Coach Hire, they have the solution to suit your needs and ensure you have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable time. Their efficient fleet of coaches can, if desired, carry your own company’s logos and graphics.
All of their vehicles have air-conditioning, washroom facilities, refrigerator, DVD and CD players, courier seat and PA system and comfortable seats with ample leg room. Tea and coffee facilities are available on-board a number of their coaches while all of their vehicles have free Wi-Fi.
“Business is going well. Our clients come to us and they know they have nothing to worry about. Our coach company couldn’t survive on agricultural tours alone so we also do work on behalf of other tour companies such as Midland Travel in Tullamore and carry out tours on their behalf to the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool games and the Cheltenham and Aintree horse racing festivals”.
Midland Travel is Ireland’s leading sports travel company who only use city centre accommodation on all their sport tour packages.
DM Tours are the experts in agricultural, special interest and leisure tours by coach and by air throughout Ireland, UK and Europe. They use only top quality luxury coaches with highly experienced knowledgeable and friendly staff. Many of their tours enjoy local area pick up points around Ireland making your travel experience an easy one.
Make a booking today! From the time you make the initial contact to during the tour and beyond, you are guaranteed a personal service.
DM Tours Coach Hire Ltd
Gallagh, Clontibret, Co. Monaghan
Coach Office: +353 (0) 4780568
Mobile: + 353 (0)87 282 6977
(Damian McKenna)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dmtcoaches.com
DM Tours, Church
Square, Monaghan
Booking Office: + 353 47 81133 or Low Call: 0818282020
Mobile: + 353 (0)87 282 6977
(Damian McKenna)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dmtours.ie
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 5, June 2016
