1961

Dorgan’s Mini Coaches is founded by the late Thomas Dorgan and his mother Frances Dorgan, who run the business from their home in Terenure, Dublin 6

1962

Thomas Dorgan excels in swimming and water polo and becomes one of Ireland’s top sport’s personalities

1963

Dorgan’s handles transport arrangements for the visit of John F Kennedy, US President

1964-1965

Dorgan’s brand their mini coaches yellow, brown and white

1966

Dorgan’s develop tourism links worldwide

1967-1969

Dorgan’s transports National rugby and soccer teams

1970

Dorgan’s look after the transport arrangements for the visit of Richard M Nixon, US President

1971

Dorgan’s celebrate 10 years in business with a party at the Shelbourne Hotel, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin

1971-1978

Dorgan’s continue to build their reputation as Dublin’s No 1 Mini Coach Company by providing quality private hire service to the people of Dublin.

1974

Dorgan’s tour driver Charles Maguire receives the Bord Failte Driver Award of Excellence

1974-1976

Dorgan’s goes continental with trips to Lourdes, and a successful tour of Spain and France with the water polo team from Half Moon Swimming Club, Dublin

1975-1977

Dorgan’s Mini Coaches come under competition by newly established Campbell’s Mini Coaches

1979

Dorgan’s were a major supplier of transport for the visit of Pope John Paul II

1981

Dorgan’s celebrate 20 years in business with a party in St Mary’s Rugby Football Club, Templeogue, Dublin for customers and friends

1981-1989

Dorgan’s commence bus service at Belfast Docks for Harland & Wolf staff

1982

Dorgan’s change brand to blue & white as their original livery was copied by Campbell’s Mini Coaches!!

1984

Frances Dorgan passed away at the age of 92 in Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin.

1985

Due to customer demand, Dorgan’s acquire a 53-Seater Van Hool coach.

1986

Thomas Dorgan is elected President of Swim Ireland.

1986-1989

Dorgan’s secure a tour contract with the American tour operator Celtic Tours through Terry Flynn Tours.

1989

Dorgan’s commence chauffeur car service.

1990

Dorgan’s begin transporting film and music stars from all over the world.

1991

1992

Dorgan’s celebrate 30 years in business with a Dinner and few drinks in the Yellow House Rathfarham, Dublin for family customers and friends

Thomas Dorgan and Stephen Millar become 50:50 partners in Dorgan’s Mini Coaches & Chauffeur Drive.

1993

Dorgan’s start running its own tour program.

1996

Dorgan’s move to new premises at Bluebell Industrial Estate, Dublin 12.

Dorgan’s organise a Treasure Hunt involving 36 minibuses.

1997

Dorgan’s joins Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland, having been proposed by JJ Kavanagh and seconded by Paul Kavanagh.

Dorgan’s invest € 1 Million in new vehicles.

1997

Campbell’s Mini Coaches cease trading.

1998

A limited company was formed with Stephen Millar, Thomas Dorgan and Brenda Mackin as directors and shareholders.

Dorgan’s establishes a contract division as a result of it winning a number of Dublin city based passenger transport contracts.

Thomas (Tommy) Dorgan passes away at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin.

Dorgan’s Mini Coaches commission a perpetual silver memorial cup for the firm’s Coach Driver of the Year as a mark of respect for the founder’s business insights.  Joe Cooney RIP is the first winner of the Tommy Dorgan memorial cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

1999

Half Moon Swimming Club dedicates an annual 5Km swimming race in Dublin Bay to the memory of Thomas Dorgan.

Dorgan’s purchase a 10 acre site North of Dublin Airport for future development.

John Kenny receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2000

Dorgan’s goes online with its new website and computer booking system.

Grant Williams receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2001

Dorgan’s celebrate 40 Years in business with a supper in Clontarf Castle Hotel, Clontarf, Dublin.

Dorgan’s secure a ‘24/7 on call’ contract from Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport Authority to cover flight delays and cancellations.

Brendan Flannery RIP receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2002

Jimmy Bradley receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2003

Gerard Raymond receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2004

Dorgan’s change its name to Dublin Mini Coaches & Chauffeur Drive to more accurately reflect the business’ speciality.

Dublin Mini Coaches acquire south Dublin based coach company ‘C & C Coach and Mini Bus Hire.

Dublin Mini Coaches look after the transport arrangements for the visit of Bill Clinton, US President.

John Roberts receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2005

Vasilijs Golombs receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2006

Dublin Mini Coaches acquire south Dublin based coach company ‘Busybus’.

Dublin Mini Coaches transports 600 visitors between Dublin and the K Club, Co Kildare for the prestigious Ryder Cup tournament.

Vasilijs Golombs receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2007

Dublin Mini Coaches shuttle the Irish Special Olympic athletes to and from their training camps as they prepare for the 2007 World Summer Games in China.

Prosper Nyagano receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2008

Dublin Mini Coaches transport more than 1000 people to and from the Punchestown Races during the Irish National Hunt Meet.

Dublin Mini Coaches is a finalist in the ‘Coach Operator of the Year’ category at the Fleet Bus & Coach awards.

Edward Collins RIP receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2009

Despite the recession, Dublin Mini Coaches continues to invest in new vehicles and staff.

Dublin Mini Coaches become an official sponsor of the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association.

Dublin Mini Coaches transport major bands performing as part of the inaugural Arthur’s Day celebrations.

Tom Healy receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2010

There was a baby boom among the management & staff of Dublin Mini Coaches - five baby girls were born.

Dublin Mini Coaches renew their sponsorship of the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association to include the 17km Irish Championship in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh.

Dublin Mini Coaches launch their new website at Dublin Tourist Office HQ , College Green, Dublin.

Dublin Mini Coaches transports 66 passengers to Coften Park Birmingham to see Pope Benedict XVI.

Dublin Mini Coaches provides free transport to the Children's Sunshine Home and Laura Lynn House for the Official Opening of Laura Lynn House, Foxrock, Dublin.

Dublin Mini Coaches support Claire Henry from Baldoyle in Dublin's Got Talent.

Head chauffeur and driver Florin Onofrei receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2011

Dublin Mini Coaches celebrate 50 years in business with a party in Doheny & Nesbitt’s pub, Baggot Street, Dublin.

US Film star Danny DeVito chose Dublin Mini Coaches New Mercedes Sprinter for his four-day whistle stop tour of Ireland.

Ireland's first ever children’s hospice is officially opened in Leopardstown by President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. 400 guests are transported to the event compliments of Dublin Mini Coaches.

Dublin Mini Coaches finish in top three in respect of safety at Ireland’s Fleet Bus & Coach Awards.

Dublin Mini Coaches part sponsor:

·  Donegal swimmer Annemarie Ward, voted World Open Water Swimming Woman of the year 2010 and winner of the Irish Open Water Swimmer of the year award 2011,

·  Dublin Based Water Polo Player Christine Barretto, selected for the South African Ladies International Team to compete at the Fina World Championship in Shanghai,

·  Dublin athlete Gerald (Ger) Carty, who swam the English Channel for his chosen charity Cancer Research and also won the Irish Long Distance Swimmer of the year award 2011.

Dublin Mini Coaches become an official sponsor of the Trinity College Dublin Men and Ladies Water polo teams.

Denis Rudd receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2012

Dublin Mini Coaches expand their bases along the east coast of Ireland and establish Belfast Mini Coaches and Newry Mini Coaches.

Dublin Mini Coaches supply buses for the Olympic Torch’s visit to Dublin going from the Grand Canal Theatre to Stephen’s Green, Dublin.

Dublin Mini Coaches acquire a 57 seater Volvo ‘Swedish chassis / Spanish body’ coach.

Dublin Mini Coaches become an official transporter of Irish athletes, officials and members of the press participating in the London Olympics.  Dublin Mini Coaches were delighted to be rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s top athletes.

Dublin Mini Coaches sponsor Dublin open water swimmers Tom Healy and Rachel NiDubhghail in their English Channel attempts.

George Costello RIP receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2013

Dublin Mini Coaches’ commuter fleet which transport circa 2750 passengers daily in Dublin city becomes entirely wheelchair accessible.

Dublin Mini Coaches is selected as a finalist in the ‘Best Livery & Corporate Identity’ at the Fleet Bus & Coach Magazine Awards in City West Hotel, Dublin.

Dublin Mini Coaches part-sponsor long distance swimmers Dominic Mullan and Eammon Cosgrove for their swim from Alcatraz island to San Francisco city, USA.

Stephen & Carla Millar of Dublin Mini Coaches welcome Sigmund Fossberg from Norway with his 25th group to Dublin city.  Fossberg makes ten more group bookings with Dublin Mini Coaches for 2014 -2015.

D'Masiv Band (the most famous pop band in Indonesia) travels with Dublin Mini Coaches for the Irish leg of their European tour.

Belfast Mini Coaches launch a new Mercedes Sprinter executive.

Charlie McGroarty receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2014

Dublin Mini Coaches take delivery of a new Spanish built 33 seater Mercedes executive mini-coach from Central Bus & Coach, Longford.

Four of Ireland's Top GAA county teams chose Dublin Mini Coaches and Belfast Mini Coaches as transport provider to and from Dublin & Belfast for mid-week training sessions in their home counties.

Dublin Mini Coaches support the Dublin Port Rally with three vehicles attending the event.

Three of Dublin Mini Coaches staff went ‘sleep walking’ in Dublin as part of a tourism social collaborative between Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Extreme Ireland, Viking Splash Tours, Canal Boat and Dublin City Sightseeing tours.

Dublin Mini Coaches celebrate the 20^th anniversary of transporting the performers of the renowned Eurovision interval act Riverdance and Anuna.

Dublin Mini Coaches sign a 3-year contract with AIG to brand a double-decker bus with photos of the Dublin GAA football team.

Dublin Mini Coaches management, staff, customers, suppliers, friends and associates attend the bi-annual coach & bus gala dinner in Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin.

Dublin Mini Coaches are the main transport provider for The People of the Year Awards organised by Rehab to provide a unique opportunity for the Irish public to honour for those who have made a real difference to people's lives, whether as unsung heroes or household names.

Dublin Mini Coaches continue to support Phoenix swimming club Dublin member Rachel Ni Dubhghaill in her attempt to swim The North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland – one of the world’s toughest swims.

Patrick Kehoe receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2015

Dublin Mini Coaches is a finalist in the ‘School Bus Operator’ category at the Fleet Bus & Coach awards.

Three of Ireland's Top GAA County Teams chose Dublin Mini Coaches and Belfast Mini Coaches as the transport provider for their weekly training in their home counties from Dublin & Belfast.

Dublin Mini Coaches drivers receive their Failte Ireland Driver Guide Badges from the Coach Tourism & Transport Council.

Dublin Mini Coaches are the main transport organiser for The People of the Year Awards.

Kieran Harten receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2016

Dublin Mini Coaches celebrate 55 years in business with a staff lunch at Leixlip House Hotel, Co Kildare.

Dublin Mini Coaches and Belfast Mini Coaches transport three American universities visiting Dublin and Belfast: University of South Dakota / University of Minnesota / McDaniel College.

Dublin Mini Coaches partner with Hidden Dublin Tours and launch a 1916 bus tour on the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising.  http://www.1916bustourdublin.com, 8500 tickets were sold on Groupon in four days.

Dublin Mini Coaches support the Dublin Port Rally.

Dublin Mini Coaches sponsor the summer 2016 Dublin Dipper series, a co-operative project between Irish Long Distance Swimming Association and Eastern Bay swimming club aimed at bringing open water swimmers from various Dublin clubs together in a safe environment.

Dublin Mini Coaches part-sponsor Dublin based swimmer Ion Lazarenco Tiron in his Seven Oceans challenge.

Jim O’Reilly receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2017

Dublin Mini Coaches, Belfast Mini Coaches and Newry Mini Coaches amalgamate under the trading name Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches to indicate the firm’s ability to serve the entire geographic area.

Stephen Millar, Managing Director of Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches celebrates twenty-five years involvement in the Irish Coach and Bus Industry. In an interview with Fleet, Bus & Coach magazine, Stephen provides an insight to the sector from an operational point of view and records how his career progressed over the years.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches launch a new double decker on its maiden voyage in Dublin.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches and Hidden Dublin Tours partner on a Famine bus tour and a Comedy bus tour.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches complete sale of North County Dublin site.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches support the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Rally 2017 with three vehicles.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches are finalists in the ‘Best Livery and Corporate Identity’ category at the Fleet Bus & Coach Awards in Killashee House Hotel, Co Kildare.

Ioan Maris receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

2018

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches detach the larger vehicle contracts from the firm’s mini-coach division and places them under a separate identity called Dublin City Decks.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches divest their shares in 1916, Famine and Comedy tour joint ventures with Hidden Dublin Tours.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches sell the Minivan Hire & Driver part of the business to an English based Media Transport Company.

2019

Jayanandan Putherzhath receives the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for Coach Driver of the Year.

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches, Dublin City Decks & Irish Mini Bus Rentals hold their annual ‘Gathering’ lunch at The Baths, Clontarf.

Dublin City Decks wrap one of their double-decker with photographs celebrating 100 years of Liffey Swim history.

Stephen Millar finished 6th in the 100th Liffey Swim

The sale of the firm’s commercial property division to a Luxembourg based property consortium completes on 8 October 2019.

A new Sports Bursary entitled Tommy Dorgan Sports Bursaries (Aquatic & Rugby) in memory of our co-founder is launched.

Daniel Olbea is announced as Coach Driver of the Year.

2020

Dublin-Belfast-Newry Mini Coaches, Dublin City Decks & Irish Mini Bus Rentals hold their annual staff & friends gathering lunch at Castleknock Hotel and Daniel Olbea is presented with the Tommy Dorgan Memorial Cup for ‘Coach Driver of the Year’ at the event.