One of Ireland’s leading coach operators, Bernard Kavanagh & Sons, has taken delivery of 11 new Volvo coaches to add to its predominantly Volvo fleet.
They were handed over to Bernard, Thomas and Emmett Kavanagh (pictured, l-r) and will supplement a fleet of more than 60 coaches for the Kilkenny operator.
Included in this latest order are seven B11R integral Volvo 9700s and four Volvo B8R Plaxton Panthers.
Co-owner Bernard Kavanagh, says: “The four 57-seat 12.8m Panthers are a change of direction for us, but we wanted to diversify our fleet.
“We have bought 13 Volvo 9700s since 2016 and have found the operational performance and reliability of the B11R chassis to be excellent, with a significant improvement on our fuel consumption.
“The 9700 far exceeds our expectations, which is why we keep returning to Volvo when we need additional coaches for our busy fleet.
In operation since 1945, Bernard Kavangh & Sons Ltd says it is Ireland’s largest private coach tour operator and runs the fleet from Urlingford, providing luxury modern coaches for touring work and international contracts.
Adds Bernard Kavanagh: “Once again, we worked with our Volvo Coach Sales Manager, Dave Porter, who always manages the whole purchasing process in a highly professional and efficient manner and understands our needs perfectly.
“As with most operators in today’s market, aftersales is very important to our business and we know that we will get the service that we require from our local Volvo dealership, Irish Commercials, which is always an important consideration in our vehicle selection.”
Dave Porter says: “We continue to enjoy an excellent, longstanding working relationship with Bernard and his team and the repeat purchases underlines their confidence and overall experience that they’ve enjoyed with Volvo to date.
“The tourism market is extremely important to the Irish economy and it is good to know that our vehicles are playing a key role in creating a good impression for Bernard Kavanagh’s customers and those of other operators servicing the sector.”
