One of Ireland’s largest, and few remaining fully independent, family owned and run insurance brokers, the Dooley Insurance Group has begun 2023 at its new head office at Millennium Park in Naas, Co Kildare. The company has been located at the same business park for the last 15 years but due to expansion it has moved to a much bigger premises to accommodate additional staff. The Dooley Insurance Group now has 12 staff based in Naas and an additional 2 staff based at its Edenderry, Co. Offaly office which it opened in the summer of 2022.
Established in 1957 by the late Ned Dooley, the Dooley Insurance Group is now one of Ireland’s largest independent insurance brokers with over 20,000 clients throughout the country. Today, the company is headed up by Ned’s son, Tim, who together with his wife Mary have built the business into one of the most respected independent, family owned and run brokers in the country.
“The growth in our business over the last 18 months in particular has been exceptional and while most businesses have downsized and, in some cases, even halved their office accommodation we have bucked that trend and are expanding. Our new office space is in fact twice the size of what we had previously, and we chose it in order to house our ever-growing number of staff. In the next five years we expect our staff number to double again. All of these projections are based on business on the books and new clients.”
The Dooley Insurance Group is certainly unique in both its growth plans and ambitions as most independent Irish brokers have been bought out by Venture Capital funds and are now part of much larger financial services or insurance companies. “It’s certainly true to say that our growth and business model is somewhat unusual now in the Irish market,” said Tim, “Most independent brokers sold out to big venture capital companies but that’s not what we want to do. We have a proud family heritage, and my late father Ned was very much a ‘client first’ person and it’s that sense of service that lies at the heart of what we do. Anyone can sell an off the shelf insurance product but not everyone is interested in their client’s real welfare and providing them with a product or service that they really need. We provide a bespoke service and find the best fit and best match solution for our client’s needs.”
Speaking about the effect that the pandemic has had on the insurance industry Tim said, “The pandemic has reminded customers how important it is to have adequate cover and to protect the things and people that matter most to you. Health insurance, business insurance and cyber security insurance are particularly important now, and we offer all of these services to our ever-growing client base. Ultimately, though our growth is due to our strong relationships with our customers. They want to be able to pick up the phone and speak to a ‘real person’ and get bespoke and unbiased advice, and that is what we offer. We can offer people solutions and products from over 50 different providers so we will always offer the ‘best fit’ solution for our clients
The new Dooley Insurance Group office is located at 6B and 6C Millennium Park in Naas and stretches over two floors. A light filled reception area on the ground floor opens out onto an open plan office. Upstairs, various private meeting rooms provide clients with discreet spaces to meet the various consultants who can advise them on wealth management and can give recommendations on various products including pensions, insurance, health and general insurance.
“We are excited for the future,” said Mary Dooley who handles the PR and marketing for the Dooley Insurance Group, “every time we put a target in front of us, we have not just met that number but exceeded it. It’s not easy of course being an independent firm, for some people that can be a lonely road, but not for us. That’s because we have built our team with people that have the same can-do attitude that we have, and we don’t stress the small stuff!”
Tim agreed and said, “Life is short, you have to be good to your customers and to your staff and to always, try and do the right thing. That was what my father believed when he set this business up all those years ago and it’s a belief that I still hold dear today and it’s at the heart of everything we do.”
The Dooley Insurance Group is headquartered at 6B and 6C Millennium Park, Naas, Co Kildare, for more see www.dooleyinsurancegroup.com
