Western Motors, Galway is celebrating 50 years in the motor trade at their premises in Ballybrit, Galway.

Western Motors was founded in 1963 by Jim McCormack. As a result of the sad passing away of Jim at the early age of 43 the company was taken over by his wife Anne. Over the next 20 years Anne ran the business on a daily basis and successfully built on the foundations set by her husband in order to ensure that she could pass on a successful business to her children, this was no easy task at a time when the motor business was dominated by men.

In 1989 Anne McCormack passed over the day-to-day running of the business to her son James McCormack and George Moran who became joint managing directors of the company. In 1992 James McCormack became managing director and George Moran took over the title of sales director, the two continued their successful business partnership together until 1998 when George retired from the business.

In 1997 Simon McCormack joined the company as Operations Director and the company is now run by both James and Simon. The company has been a family business from the very start and is determined to stay that way.

For over 35 years our business was based at our Tuam Road premises and we were very proud to move into our current Ballybrit premises in November 1999, where we now represent Volkswagen cars and Commercials, Seat cars and Mercedes-Benz Service. Development opportunities were investigated and in 2008 we opened Western Motors in the M1 Retail Park, Drogheda, Co. Louth. Simon McCormack is Dealer Principle of Western Motors Drogheda where the Volkswagen car and Commercial and Skoda Franchises are now represented.

Over the past 50 years Western Motors have been Massey Ferguson Tractor Dealers, Austin and Jaguar Car Dealers, Fiat Car Dealers, Audi and Mercedes-Benz dealers and since 1984 we have been proud to be Volkswagen Main Dealers. While some franchises have gone and been replaced by others we are proud to say that western motors continues to operate as a quality car dealership.

Looking back over those fifty 'quick' years, James McCormack, Managing Director, commented that, “We certainly have not been bored as changes in the economy, in the motor business and most importantly in customer expectations have meant that we have had to work hard as a team to deliver what our customers expect but thankfully we have also had plenty of fun along the way and genuinely want to thank both our staff and our customers for the faith they have put in us over the years."