RANDLES BROS th - 2021 CALENDAR
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th
ANNIVERSARY
RANDLES BROS
A CENTURY OF SERVICE
ANNIVERSARY
2021 C A L E N DA R
th
ANNIVERSARY
Various family members worked in the business. Peggy
worked in the office until her marriage to Michael RANDLES BROS
Harrington and Maura then took over. The younger Tom A CENTURY OF SERVICE
helped out, but eventually chose a life in the priesthood.
2021
When the time came for the brothers to pass on the reins,
it was Neil who took over.
In 1957, Neil Randles made the bold decision to expand
the business into Killarney. He rented a premises on
Muckross Road and opened for business on 1 November.
He was joined by Miss Sheila Coughlan who faithfully
managed the office for him until her retirement, while
his sister, Maura, kept the operation going in Kenmare,
along with Jerry O’Sullivan, from Rock Street, Kenmare,
Over the course of 100 years, three who had joined Randles Brothers at the age of 14. They
were also joined by Curley Murphy from the Berehaven
generations of the Randles family Motorworks family in Castletown Bere, who later married
have run a motor business, founded in Maura.
Like his uncle before him, Neil had a home adjoining the
Kenmare and expanded into Killarney Killarney garage where he and his wife, Kay, would raise
and Kenmare. their six children, Con, Bernadette, David, Susan, Rosaleen
and Tom. The couple also built a hotel, The Dromhall,
across the road, which was managed by Kay.
A CENTURY OF SERVICE
Business thrived during the 1960s and 1970s, as Ireland
grew more prosperous and car sales increased and the
tourism business grew. Neil expanded his business
Tom Randles, a farmer’s son from Clontoo – between interests further with investments in C&R frozen foods
Kenmare and Kilgarvan – was born in 1891. As a teenager (1978) and CRL oil distribution (1980) along with his
he worked with the Hall family in Kenmare and showed an good friends Tadgh Crowley and Mick Lucey. By now
aptitude for repairing their cars. After a time, and possibly Neil Randles was employing a large number of people
with their encouragement, he went to England for a year across his motor, hospitality and distribution operations.
to take City & Guilds training in motor mechanics. Neil’s sons, Con and David, were brought into the garage
When he returned, he set up his own workshop under business as teenagers, serving petrol and learning the
an archway by the Lansdowne Hotel on Kenmare’s Main ropes. They had a keen interest in motor rallying and began
Street. But he set his eye on a site on Shelbourne Street competing in a Mini in 1979. The company acquired the
owned by the Lansdowne Estate. When his Nissan dealership for South Kerry in 1982 at its Kenmare
offer to buy it was turned down by the garage, while Killarney continued as Austin Rover
agent, he approached Lord Lansdowne (formerly Morris) dealership.
directly and the deal was sealed. Tom Neil passed away suddenly in 1987
had previously suffered in a mining at the age of 51 and Randles
accident in Clontoo and possibly Brothers passed on to the third
had compensation money for the generation. Motor industry
purchase. standards were escalating atHis parents encouraged him to take his younger brother, the time and both premises were outdated. Con and David
Con, into the business and they established Randles made the difficult decision to close the Kenmare premises
Brothers on Shelbourne Street, Kenmare in 1921. It was in 1990 and concentrate their efforts on Killarney. In 1992,
a volatile time in Ireland with the War of Independence they refurbished the Killarney garage into a modern car
underway. During the Civil War the garage was, at one showroom, workshop and forecourt with convenience
point, forced to close and, on another occasion, Con store, bringing the business to a new level.
crashed a car into a building on Henry Street to prevent it They developed their business connections with Tralee
being involved in a Civil War action. throughout the 1990s and opened a small outlet there in
1999 before investing in a state-of-the-art, new premises
at Manor West Retail Park in 2003. Like his father before
him, Con died suddenly and young. He was 49 when
he passed away in 2010.
During the following decade, David
“
Randles again refurbished both
Real garages have a the Killarney and Tralee outlets to
different smell from filling the standards required of a Nissan
stations. They aren’t just glorified dealership. He continues the motoring
sweet-counters sitting on giant fuel tanks buried tradition started by his grand-uncle and grandfather in
in the ground. They aren’t just about a quick sale 1921.
– they are about an accumulation of processes. And he still loves to rally in his spare time.
So real garages have a workshop kind of smell.
It’s a sweet-and-sour aroma of spilt petrol and Written by Cleo Murphy, granddaughter of Con Randles
cut metal, grease-grunge in toolboxes, cleaning
rags and concrete, stale air from inner-tubes.
Bicycle repairs, hackney services, and petrol sales were It’s a smell from childhood summers in my
all part of the early business, as was charging batteries grandfather’s garage in Kerry. The smell of the
for radios. An additional workshop was acquired on trench, a black pit in which the mechanics would
Shelbourne Street. Local men were hired and trained work on the cars.
as mechanics. When the sale of cars began to increase, It was fairly dark inside the pit, yet the mechanics
Randles Brothers became a Morris dealership and the wouldn’t need any extra light. After all, their
Morris Minor became a popular seller. hands did most of the seeing. Their fingertips
The two brothers raised their families on Shelbourne
Street. Tom lived in a home on the garage premises with
would swim around the objects, tightening
“
a loose bit here, or stroking and prodding a
his wife, Dolly and daughters Kay, Peggy, and Eileen. It broken bit there, until it was all done.
had a distinctive façade created by Kenmare builder Jack
Bell. In a grove across the street, Con built a home for his Michael Cunningham – grandson of Tom Randles
family; his wife, Mamie, and their children Esther, Tom, Circa magazine, Winter 1998
Neil and Maura.
1921 20212021
JAN
Eanáir
Con Randles
Shelbourne Street, Kenmare in the early years when brothers Tom and Con Randles established their motor business.
Tom RandlesMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 New Years Day 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2021
FEB
Feabhra
Folk memories. Where do you start? “Battery Day” in our grandfather’s garage, when he dropped everything else for the batteries. Lines and lines of batteries,
standing like nervous soldiers by the dynamo at the back of the workshop. Its huge belt would whizz around monotonously for an eternity, until the lead and acid
were miraculously renewed. The batteries were urgently needed for the Marconis, because tomorrow was the All-Ireland, or Dev’s big speech, or, more likely still,
the latest show with Ciaran MacMathuna
Michael Cunningham – grandson of Tom Randles Irish Times, 2 March 1993
Tom RandlesMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
2021
MAR
Márta
The garage was staffed by family members and local employees, many of whom stayed with Randles Brothers until their retirement. Included in the main picture
with Tom and Con Randles, are Neil and Maura Randles, John Crowley, Jerry O’Sullivan, Bobby Whyte, Andrew Hallissey, Donal O’Sullivan and Paddy Randles.Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 St. Patrick’s Day 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2021
APR
Aibreán
The brothers were joined in the business by Con’s sons Neil and Tom until the latter joined the priesthood with St. Patrick’s Missionaries.Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 Good Friday 3 4 Easter 5 Easter Monday 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2021
MAY
Bealtaine
Neil Randles
During the 1960s, the custom was for businesses to have their own annual social night for staff, customers and anyone who wanted to join in.
This photo shows the family and staff at a Randles Brothers social.Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 31 1 2 3 May Day 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2021
JUN
Meitheamh
In 1957, Neil Randles expanded the business set up by his father and uncle, opening a second premises on
Muckross Road in Killarney.
Killarney staff with Neil Randles and his
young son, Con.Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 Bank Holiday 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 302021
JUL
Iúil
Con Randles
David Randles
During the 1980s, Neil’s young sons, Con and David became more involved in the business. They were also keen motor sports enthusiasts who started rallying in
Minis and then moved to Datsun/Nissan cars.Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2021
AUG
Lúnasa
Randles Brothers become more involved with the business life of Kerry. Connections with Tralee and the Festival of Kerry began in the 1990s,
leading to the opening of a premises in Tralee 1999.Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 30 31 1 2 Bank Holiday 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
2021
SEP
Meán Fómhair
Killar ney Team
In 1992, the Killarney premises was redeveloped to include a new forecourt and convenience store.
David Randles
avid Randles
Con and DMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2021
OCT
Deireadh Fómhair
Tralee Service Area Tralee Sales Team
After an initial opening in Tralee in 1999, Randles Brothers, now under the management of Con and David Randles, moved to a new, state-of-the-
art premises in Manor West Retail Park in 2003.Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Bank Holiday 26 27 28 29 30 31
2021
NOV
Samhain
Current Tralee site
Tralee Showrooms
Current Killarney site
In the decade leading up to its centenary, Randles Brothers refurbished its outlets in Killarney and Tralee to the latest Nissan standards requiredMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2021
DEC
Nollaig
th
ANNIVERSARY
RANDLES BROS
A CENTURY OF SERVICE
Tom Randles Con Randles Neil Randles Con Randles David Randles
The three generations who founded, expanded and still operate Randles Brothers
1921 2021Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Christmas Eve 25 Christmas Day 26 St. Stephen’s Day 27 28 29 30 31 New Year’s Eve
In 2021, Randles Brothers completes a century of business in Kerry, under the management
of David Randles, grandson of Con Randles.
“It’s an honour to have brought this business to its centenary,” he says. “Since Tom and
Con established it – and my father, Neil, expanded it – staff members too numerous to
mention have been part of its success.
“Mechanics filled the workshops, salespeople met with customers, office staff kept track of
the administration. They adapted over the years to new motor technology and new ways
of doing business. It has been a good enterprise, well supported by staff and customers.
I’m grateful to them all.”
ANNIVERSARY
2021 C A L E N DA R
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