Dublin’s John Galligan Travel has become Frosch Ireland's latest acquisition, following that of Grogan Travel in July. The deal will see founder John Galligan stay on for around a year with the agency, which has traded for 36 years.
The existing team will remain at the branch in Dublin, which now specialises in luxury cruises and also polar expedition travel following a change in direction after Covid.
Starting at BA on 1 April 1974, Galligan worked in both corporate and leisure travel before founding his own business in 1989. “I’ve not worked on the boats or the railway, but I’ve done everything else,” he told TTG.
Galligan said his agency had evolved since the Covid pandemic, with the few remaining staff switching from selling mainstream products to luxury and expedition cruise over the phone. “It was a gamble, because Ireland is a small market,” he said.
"After Covid, we slimmed down to the bone and discarded product. We’re now the number one seller for Silversea and the expedition cruise experts, with really no competition. We offer the kind of service you expect at that price.”
He quipped it had “only taken 50 years to learn how to run a business”. Galligan described the sale as “more of an exit strategy than retirement”.
“I turned 70 last month – I would love to keep going for another couple of years, but I feel the tendency in travel is to wait too long – by the time they realise it’s time to go, either their business is crocked or they are."
Galligan flagged the rise of expedition cruising as a career highlight. “After so many years in the business, it’s difficult to find something that lights the fuse, but that lights the fuse.”
He added: “I started with nothing, but I’ve been able to stand on seven continents and stay in some of the world’s best hotels.”
Galligan said he hoped to enjoy more of the luxury product his business sells once he wound down. “I’d like to see the business grow and test out all the new ships.”
He said service levels had influenced his choice of purchaser. “I want to ensure the kind of service we offer endures," he continued. "I spoke to a number of people and in Frosch, I think I found the one that gets what we are doing. To make sure that happens, I’m staying on for another year."
Galligan added: “In a business with an Irish airline pushing industry standards down, I’m very proud to be going in the opposite direction.”
Frosch’s latest acquisition follows those of Grogan Travel in Tuam in July, Dublin-based The Travel Broker in 2024 and KC Travel in Tralee, County Kerry, in 2022. Angela Walsh, Frosch Ireland chief executive, this summer signalled the group was in an acquisitive mood.
Speaking about the latest deal, she said: “John Galligan Travel is a name synonymous with quality, integrity, and trust in the travel sector. We are proud to welcome John and his outstanding team to the Frosch family.
"This acquisition represents more than growth, it is a union built on shared values and a deep commitment to exceptional client service.”
