Phil Grehan RIP

It is with deep sadness we learned of the passing of one of our true Industry characters, Phil Grehan, last Friday morning. Marian Benton (Travelbiz) sent us the very sad news from Australia over the weekend where she was to meet Phil for a long overdue reunion. Phil moved to Coffs Harbour on the 1st of January last year to be near her daughter, Deirdre, and her husband Richard and her two adored grandchildren, Ameila and Oliver.

Marian Benton.

I had been due to travel up to Coffs Harbour in the next few weeks to spend time with Phil, we were going to do a road trip through Queensland together (Thelma and Louise style). So upset that I didn’t get to see her. What a character. An old school travel agent who jumped through hoops and turned somersaults for her clients. Nothing was too much trouble for her. As for her travel stories, such a memory and a head for detail. Phil managed Abbey Travel in the ILAC Centre before heading up the Australia Travel Centre. Phil went on one of the first ever Educationals from Ireland to Australia and fell completely in love with the country, ironic really, that she ended her days there. She led many further Fams Down Under for Abbey Travel and a host of travel agents around Ireland still recount those memorable trips.

May her kind and gentle soul rest in peace.