Thomas Connolly opened the first Connolly family car dealership in 1939 – and over 79 years later the Connolly family continue to keep the family’s passion for cars alive.

Originally from Galway, Thomas Connolly opened a Fiat dealership and forecourt in Ballina.

His son, Kevin Connolly, worked alongside his father until the 1960s when he went to America and set up an Amanco gas and service station in the Bronx in New York.

Returning to Ireland in the mid 1980s, Kevin set up in business on Francis street – three doors down from his father’s original garage. In 1987, he was appointed the main dealer for Volkswagen and Audi for Mayo.