Shandon Travel is celebrating its 50th anniversary in business this week.
Founded in 1974 by Michael Doorley, with one member of staff, Shandon Travel is now celebrating 50 unbroken years of offering top class service to customers nationwide.
Shandon Travel now operates from Grand Parade in Cork city, but the first office was located on Oliver Plunkett Street. The company also has offices in Clonakilty and Bantry under the West Cork Travel brand.
The SAYIT brand is also owned and operated by Shandon Travel and is one of the biggest providers in the country of the J1 USA Summer Work and Travel Visa for college students. It also offers the CAMP USA programme for 18-28-year-olds interested in gaining experience in working with American kids in summer camps.
Not long after Michael Doorley opened the doors of Shandon Travel, he soon became one of the first members of the ITAA, serving as the Munster representative on the newly formed council for several years. In 1982 Doorley was elected as President of ITAA and was re-elected in 1983 and again in 2021, and also held the position as Treasurer between Presidencies.
ITAA CEO Clare Dunne congratulated Mr Doorley, by saying: “The Irish Travel Agents Association congratulate Shandon Travel and Michael Doorley on reaching this milestone. It is a fantastic achievement to reach 50 years in business and it is wonderful to see that Shandon Travel has become central to the travel scene in Ireland and to the business landscape in Cork. Michael Doorley has indeed made a significant contribution to the Irish travel industry.”
Shandon Travel offers all types of holidays from camping, cruising, touring, ski holidays, Lapland, golf breaks and sun holidays, of course.
Here’s to another 50 years! All the best to Michael and the Shandon Travel team, from all of us at ITTN.
