Joe Walsh Tours closes down right after 60 many years in small business

1 of Ireland’s oldest, major and ideal-recognised travel agents and tour operators, Joe Walsh Tours, has shut down.

In a statement, the Commission for Aviation Regulation (Car) mentioned Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd, buying and selling below 10 distinct model names including Joe Walsh Excursions, is not able to fulfil its obligations to clients and has ceased buying and selling.

“The Fee operates a client protection plan and, if you find you are out of pocket, you may well be included by this scheme,” the Vehicle stated.

“The Fee also operates a Refund Credit rating Take note Plan. You may perhaps be coated by this plan if your holiday has been cancelled thanks to Covid-19 and you have nonetheless to obtain a refund from Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd.”

Prior to the pandemic, the corporation had workplaces in the United kingdom, Europe, and the US and utilized much more than 100 men and women, but it is comprehended to presently have all-around 25 workers.

Joe Walsh Tours was founded in 1961 by Co Down native Joe Walsh, soon after he experienced spent time doing the job for the Ulster Transportation Authority and afterwards with Thomas Cook dinner in London.

Seeing the potential for growth of the journey marketplace, Mr Walsh commenced supplying inexpensive offer vacations listed here.

It has due to the fact grown into 1 of Ireland’s major vacation corporations, specialising in amongst other issues the managing of tours to pilgrimage places as very well as escorted excursions, which includes as a result of the use of chartered plane.

The company also branched out into athletics journey, such as trips to a complete range of superior-profile athletics fixtures, as very well as cruises, army, heritage, tunes and faculty tours, and abroad weddings.

Family members owned, the firm is now run by Mr Walsh’s sons Barry and David Walsh.

In a statement, Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours confirmed it had ceased buying and selling and has not traded considering that the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the business claimed it had remained open up for the duration of the time period to guide customers with refunds and rebookings.

“Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. did all the things they could to see on their own and their prospects by means of the pandemic,” it mentioned.

“Journey protocols in Ireland are the most restrictive in Europe, putting Irish vacation companies at a drawback to their European counterparts.”

The business said it like other travel companies and tour operators was spending overheads, but was not able to trade and was also waiting on refunds from suppliers.

It additional that whilst it has business enterprise interruption insurance coverage in place and experienced hoped to be able to keep on buying and selling pursuing a refund assert from the insurers, it has not been probable to access agreement with the insurers at this stage.

The company’s directors stated the determination to close has been made is in the greatest fascination of all concerned.

“We would like to thank, at this time, all our customers about the many years,” they reported.

“We would also like to admit the incredible effort that our workers have manufactured, and for their loyalty and support, specifically during the last 12 months.”