THE COMMISSION FOR Aviation Regulation (CAR) has today announced that one of Ireland’s oldest travel agents, Joe Walsh Tours, is going out of business after 60 years.
In a statement today, the CAR said the company is now “unable to fulfil its obligations to customers”.
The end of Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd (which traded under a number of names) may mean customers are out of pocket.
The CAR said it offers a consumer protection scheme and that affected customers might be able to recoup money already spent on bookings.
The Commission also operates a Refund Credit Note Scheme. You may be covered by this scheme if your holiday has been cancelled due to Covid-19 and you have yet to receive a refund from Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd.
More information about who is due a refund and how to apply for one can be found here.
You must submit your claim form within 60 days of the collapse of the business, a statement from the CAR warned.
In a statement, Joe Walsh Tours said it was hit hard by the pandemic and did “everything it could” to continue to trade.
“Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. did everything they could to see themselves and their 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.
“Like many travel agencies and tour operators Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. was paying overheads, while at the same time unable to trade and also waiting on refunds from suppliers. Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd. has worked full time during the pandemic for no return,” the statement read.
In the initial statement from the Commission for Aviation, a number of companies including Paul Claffey Tours were said to be trading names of Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours. However, Paul Claffey Tours has since confirmed it remains fully operational. In a statement, the company said:
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