As of Thursday 10 February, WR Shaw’s official tenure as a New Holland dealer concluded.

This brought an end to a 37-year relationship between New Holland and the Tullamore firm.

A year on from the notice of termination, New Holland has failed to appoint a replacement dealer.

With many rumours circulating of potential replacements, the Irish Farmers Journal understands that two dealers in Laois and Wexford are in advanced talks with the tractor manufacturer.

We wish to thank all the staff at WR Shaw for their support of the brand in the area over the years

We asked New Holland for an update on the situation, and the manufacturer said: “New Holland Agriculture would like to confirm to their customers in Offaly, Laois, Longford and Westmeath, Republic of Ireland that WR Shaw Ltd have left the New Holland dealer network and cease to be a New Holland dealer.

“We wish to thank all the staff at WR Shaw for their support of the brand in the area over the years.

“An announcement regarding future coverage of the area will be made in the coming weeks. In the meantime, New Holland continues to be supported by an outstanding network of official dealers to support all of your sales, parts and service requirements. Full details can be found on the dealer locator section of www.newholland.com.

"Should you wish to contact us directly, please contact the New Holland customer line 00800 64111 111.”

WR Shaw is understood to have issued letters to 900 of its clients this week regarding the situation with New Holland. In the letter, Billy Shaw said: “It has been a hugely stressful time for our family and staff family and it has challenged us more than the previous 37 years combined.

Trade routes

“Over the past year, we have been contacted by suppliers from far and wide with whom we have bought and sold tractors over the years. We have found new trade routes which had been previously blocked to us.

“We have found great suppliers for parts and tractors and, most importantly, we will continue to supply great value.

“We have invested heavily in our parts department, with extra warehousing and a stock of parts in excess of €1.2m making us the largest stockist of New Holland parts in the country to cover our Kilcock and Carlow depots.

Delivery

“By the end of this month, we will have taken delivery of 60 new tractors. All of which will carry full manufacturer’s warranty and an attractive finance package. These, together with a large number of ex-hire units, mean we are well positioned to satisfy all [our customers’] needs.

“Our service team will continue as before with the latest diagnostic technology at hand and a fleet of fully kitted service vans at their disposal to service any problem which may arise anywhere in the country. We will continue with our hire fleet, which has become very popular over the years”.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that these new tractors are coming from Europe, in particular through Spain and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, since taking over the two Lyons and Burton depots last year, WR Shaw has changed the name in the Carlow depot from Lyons and Burton to WR Shaw. The reasoning behind this move was that Carlow was doing more business in the tractor line.

Lyons and Burton will remain over the door at the Kilcock depot.