http://www.mcavoycoachtravel.com/

McAvoys of Greyabbey, 29b Carrowdore Road, Greyabbey (2026)

26/03/2026

After 43 brilliant years in the Bus and Coach Industry today we carried out our last hire, even the real Boss Fiona McAvoy
went along.

15/12/2025

The time has nearly come for us to hang up the keys one last time. One more time to get the power washer out after a day’s driving, one more time hoking sweets out from down the sides of the seats and one more time with our loyal customers on the road.

Come early April 2026 McAvoy’s Coach Travel will be handed over to Adrian McDermott, owner of Coach Connections based out of Portaferry and Newtownards. Adrian over the years has become not only a business associate but a close friend to the family. We have complete trust that he will continue to serve our clients to the highest standards.

Robin will continue to honour all bookings already in the diary and those placed from now until the 5th of April 2026. From then onwards, we will be passing over the torch to the team at Coach Connections who will take over any further bookings and give Robin the chance to finally put his feet up.

To our clientele over the years, we cannot thank you enough. Many became friends along the way, we thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent with you on the road. From local trips around the Ards Peninsula to the Battlefield tours around Europe, we reflect on every mile with joy and contentment. Without the great people we worked with over the years we would not have made it this far; the people made the job a pleasure.

A real honour of Robin’s career was having the chance to visit his Great Uncle Tommy Johnston’s grave in Tyne Cot, Belgium; a total of 38 times. He greatly enjoyed sharing Tommy’s story with anyone who visited the graveside with him, having a real sense of pride in the family’s connection to World War One.

Alongside this, Robin notes the joy of specialised trips to Classic Car Club meets and Vintage Tractor shows throughout the whole of the UK and Europe. He remembers going the Great Dorset Steam Fair and having to bring a trailer for the bus, as based on previous years he knew the group would buy so much auto jumble that it would not fit into the side lockers. Another key highlight over the years was bringing groups to Pigeon shows and sales, on one occasion having 580 live birds bought from Lier Market in Belgium on board. Don’t worry, they were kept in secure cages and had their passports with them, but boy did it really confuse the sniffer dogs in Rotterdam!

The last thank you goes out to Fiona, countless days in the office and behind the wheel keeping the whole show running. Without her dedication over the years and understanding of the family business we wouldn’t have made it as far as we did. Our children like to joke of her 25 years maternity leave from driving, but this was never the case.

As we turn the final page on this incredible chapter, our hearts are full of gratitude and pride. McAvoy’s Coach Travel has been more than a business, it has been a family, a community and a shared journey of laughter, stories and unforgettable memories. Though the keys will soon rest and the engines fall silent, the bonds we’ve built will endure far beyond the road. Your support has been the fuel behind every journey made.

A well-earned retirement (and beer) is in sight. It’s time for us to enjoy the farm. Thank you for 25 wonderful years behind the wheel.

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year,
Robin & Fiona McAvoy

05/05/2025

Just finished tending to my collection of rare Insects acquired on the N17 😅

19/09/2024

Today we visited the Titanic Memorial in the Village of Lahandra Co, Mayo 14 of the Villagers boarded the Ship in Cobh In the hope of finding a new life in America only 3 survived the disaster.