05/06/2026
AE Car Service in Ballinamore.
“If I’m honest, sometimes it felt like we knew every abandoned building in the area.” 🔧✨
Sometimes, the longest roads lead to the most welcoming destinations. Two years ago, Elnur Khalilov and Oleksandr Yefremov were strangers living in different towns, trying to build new lives for their families here in County Leitrim. Elnur was balancing night shifts at Kilronan Castle, while Oleksandr—a former locomotive driver from Ukraine—was working across local bike shops and garages.
But both carried the exact same dream: to open their own auto repair shop.
Their paths crossed in May 2023 at a "Start Your Own Business" course organized by the Leitrim Development Company. Instantly finding common ground, they decided to join forces.
The journey that followed was a true test of patience, filled with endless property viewings and sudden cancellations. Autumn was an especially tough period when they almost lost hope.
When asked what kept them going through the setbacks, they shared a glimpse of their partnership:
Elnur: "Probably supporting each other. When one of us was tired and started to doubt things, the second would say: 'No, let's try one more time.'"
Oleksandr: "Well, and neither of us knows how to sit around doing nothing. That’s probably our problem!" (laughs)
The turning point came almost by accident when they found a listing online with only a couple of bad photos. They decided to take a chance and view it anyway.
Oleksandr: "And so we arrive... look at each other... and we just knew. This is our place."
Today, AE Car Service is officially open and thriving in Ballinamore. The guys are incredibly grateful to their landlord, Jim Dalton, for his support on the start-up, as well as LDCO’s Enterprise Support Officer, Liam O’Brien, who provided mentorship and helped them navigate equipment grants.
Oleksandr: "We still don't fully believe it." (laughs)
Elnur: "But it's a very good feeling to know that it was all worth it."
Elnur and Oleksandr's journey isn't just about business; it’s a beautiful reminder of what happens when resilience meets a supportive local community.
We are so honored to have played a part in their story.
🚗 Need a repair or want to support a fantastic local business? Drop by AE Car Service in Ballinamore! https://www.facebook.com/ballinamore.car.repairs/
👉 If you are looking to start your own business path or access local community supports, reach out to Liam O'Brien at [email protected] or visit us online.
