Mill road, Barnstaple 1981.
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 and even 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 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 and now age 16 Colin moved to Braunton to start his apprenticeship 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 and at just age 21 Colin was the manager of West Cross garage and went on to manage the four further premises owned by the company.
Ireland’s services was officially founded 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. As you can imagin these were long days and late nights. While Colin was working every hour God sent Doreen (Colin’s wife) gave 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 started working with Colin much to the schools dismay. 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 did the premises, unfortunately Braunton couldn’t house such a garage which forced the move into the Old Laundry Mill, Mill Road, Barnstaple. This premises saw Ireland’s grow year on year 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 saw a massive step forwards for Ireland’s when choosing to take on the Kawasaki 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 soley on bikes.
Braunton Road 1991
In 1991 Ireland’s motorcycles moved for the second time to 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. Not to mention our recent achievement of the Yamaha dealership. We have also seen the arrival and growth of the third generation to 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, Russel, Ken Lauren and Kate 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 has allow the space to expand an already impressive stock of new and used motorcycles.
| 
