Family Fun – Scooter Island
Scooter Island has been a family business run from Usher Island on the Liffey since 1948 when they were known as Island Motors. Established by Joe Farrell at first it mainly dealt in motor cars, but since the 1980’s the business has been primarily about two wheel vehicles. With all of the changes in the James Street area Scooter Island must be one of the longer established local family businesses still trading.
I met Mark Farrell, Joe’s son, who now runs the business since his father’s death in 2003. He was commenting that the family had no old photographs of the front of the shop or of Usher’s Quay from those early years and would really appreciate seeing and copying any photos out their in the community. So if any of you have photos please contact either www.scooterisland.com or www.frg.ie and we can arrange for copies to be made and put up on the net.
Mark was explaining how hard it was to get through the tough times of 2008 – 2010 but the great economy offered by scooter transport and the fashion changes helped to keep the business going. Changes in regulations that now require scooter and motor bike riders to have completed 18 hours of certified training (and the cost of that training) slowed sales down just when one might expect a boom. But the great economy of scooter transport for those in the city especially and the design icon the Vespa scooter has become has kept a steady stream of customers coming to their doors.
Scooter Island sells new and used scooters and accessories. They repair and upgrade older models and are in touch with the greater scooter community of Ireland. They are confirmed ‘petrol heads’ with a love of the combustion engine (and Manchester United) to unite them. They were not impressed when I was extolling my drive of a Kia Soul Ev (all electric car). Mark’s first response was way too quiet for a motor!
This family firm provides a love and understanding of the humble scooter that helps keep the energy efficient two wheeled vehicles on the road and traveling around Ireland.
Photo1: Colin Toner working on scooter, Mark Farrell joining debate. Photo: Christine Bond
Photo2: Vintage Blue Vespa. Photo: Christine Bond
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