Irelands Motorcycles

Old mill road premises around 1981.

History

Motor vehicles have played a massive part of the Ireland's history as the family have been involved with cars and motorcycles for generations.

It all started with Colin’s father the late Thomas Ireland who was the head mechanic in Melhuish garage Winkleigh for over 40 years. He repaired everything, cars, tractors, stationary engines. You name it, he’d fix it. Obviously Colin spent a lot of time with his father on the tools and it was a natural progression for himself.

Colin left his school in Chumleigh at the age of 14 and started an Engineering course at North Devon College which included both gas and electric welding. Upon completion of his course Colin now age 16 made his big break, the man from a little village landed an apprentaship in the big city of Braunton in what is still known as West Cross Garage. Alongside work Colin also attended college for one day and two nights further a week for three years. As his experience grew so did his position within the company at just age 21 Colin was the manager of West Cross, by the end of his time there he was managing four separate premises.

The Start of Irelands services

Ireland’s services started in 1971 as a car garage and this also included the purchase of Braund’s Taxi service in Braunton which ran alongside the garage for three years until its sale.

While this was all going on Doreen (Colin’s wife) had given birth to their first son Phil in 1960, similar to Colin he grew up in and around the workshops playing and learning. Around 1974/75 Phil also decided school wasn’t for him and mechanics was, he also had a very slim attendance record through the later part of schooling. Phil’s main passion was motorcycles and scrambling in which he had gained great experience repairing his own and others race bikes.

Mill Road

As the business grew so the premises had too as well, unfortunately Braunton couldn’t house such a garage which forced the move into the Old Laundry, Mill Road, Barnstaple. This premises saw Ireland’s grow year on year still repairing cars and motorcycles, Phil’s interests also expanded trying a successful hand at rallying(road and stage) giving the garage a very active life.

Mill Road also brought a massive step for Ireland’s choosing to take on Kawasaki main dealership, this period saw many changes in style of business and staff. Our Chief storemen Ken has now been with us for 23 years! As time went on motorcycles became the dominant vehicle in our workshop and a decision was made to give up car repairs and concentrate sole on bikes.

Braunton Road

In 1991 saw the second move for Ireland’s motorcycles our current unit on Braunton Rd, Barnstaple. Since moving into this premises we have taken on many more motorcycle franchises such as Vespa, Piaggio, Gilera, Royal Enfield, TGB scooters while maintaining our Kawasaki dealership. We have also seen the arrival and growth of the third generation to enter the business, after leaving school Phil’s youngest son Tom joined Father and Granfather in the workshop.

Having such a high standard of tutors Tom’s experience of a modern workshop and garage soon grew, He has a lot of thanks to the elder generations that have helped him from family to employees. Phil and Tom have swapped the roles in which they play in the business many times over recent years trying to perfect the way in which its run. Phil’s love is definitely in the technical side and has headed back to what brought him into the business, he now manages and works in our workshop.

We currenty have four technicians and one valeter full time but are looking for another technician to keep up with the demand for repairs. Tom is working with Grandad Colin, Ken and Lauren managing the sales + accessories side, always looking to expand and take things further.The movement of our workshop into its new 4000 square feet unit will allow the space to expand an already impressive stock of new and used motorcycles.