Mercedes-Benz Ireland chief executive, Stephen Byrne and sales manager, Ciaran Allen, recently visited the newly opened Connolly Motor Group Mercedes-Benz dealership at Collooney, Co. Sligo.

Meeting with dealer principals, Neil and Kevin Connolly Jnr., they viewed the premises and described themselves ‘highly impressed’ by the new facility which, they said, ranks amongst the finest in Ireland.

A core feature of the new development is its ‘impressive’ showrooms with space to comfortably display up to 15 new cars, and more. Particularly noteworthy, they said, is “the level of investment made in the installation of advanced high-tech equipment used in vehicle servicing and the use of online technology used in training and communications.”

Outside, facilities include an extensive display of approved Star Select used cars and copious exterior customer parking space. Inside, customers are received at an imposing reception module and hospitality area. Individual sales offices and meeting rooms front a modern workshop, extensive stores and parts sales counter and pre-delivery inspection centre located to the rear of the building.

Transformed from a pre-existing premises acquired by Connollys overlooking the main dual-carriageway approach to Sligo at Collooney, the 20,000 sq ft premises is one of the largest Mercedes-Benz sales showrooms, parts outlets and after-sales service facilities in Ireland. At full capacity, it will provide some 20 new full-time jobs, the majority of which are already in place.

Described by Neil and Kevin Connolly as a development that “rekindles a link between Motor Distributors Limited and the Connolly family, established in the mid-1980s when the late Kevin Connolly Snr., was appointed to represent marques then within the Motor Distributors’ portfolio”, the opening of the new Sligo dealership gives Mercedes-Benz what chief executive Stephen Byrne said is “top class sales and after-sales representation covering the entire North West region.”

Extending to 14 the number of Mercedes-Benz main dealers countrywide, he expressed Mercedes-Benz’s ‘pride and delight’ at having the support of such an energetic and forward-thinking team “whose performance in the short time since they began operations already equals expectation”.

Thanking them for their visit, Neil and Kevin Connolly repeated their delight in representing a brand whose heritage dates back to 1886 and the invention of the world’s first motor car and the production of the first motor car ever imported into Ireland”.