Joe Walsh Tours announced its closure on Tuesday, with directors thanking both customers and staff in a statement.
Established in 1961 by Bangor-man Joe Walsh, the family owned-and-operated tour provider was famous in Catholic circles for its travel to pilgrimage destinations such as Lourdes and Medjugorje.
Commenting on the decision to cease trading, the directors said the decision to close the travel agent’s doors was “in the best interest of all concerned”.
Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. had not traded since the beginning of the pandemic and stated that it had done “everything they could” to see itself and its customers through the pandemic.
“Travel protocols in Ireland are the most restrictive in Europe, putting Irish travel companies at a disadvantage to their European counterparts,” the statement added.
As with other travel agencies and tour operators, Joe Walsh Tours continued to pay overheads as it was unable to trade, while also waiting on refunds from suppliers, with the statement saying “Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. has worked full time during the pandemic for no return”.
“Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. has business interruption insurance in place. The company had hoped to be able to continue trading with the benefit of a large refund claim from the insurers,” the statement read.
“However, it has not been possible to reach agreement with the insurers at this stage. This will now be a matter for the liquidators to progress in due course.”
The company holds a bond with the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR), which will now manage any outstanding refunds, including those under the Refund Credit Note (RCN) scheme announced by the Government in 2020.
Any customer of Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. with money paid towards a cancelled booking or a future travel package is advised to contact CAR and make a claim at the website www.aviationreg.ie