Farmers to protest factory closure

TILLAGE farmers, angry at the planned closure of Carlow sugar factory and Banagher Maltings in Co Offaly, are to take to the streets in Dublin on Thursday.

Beet and malting barley growers will protest at the annual general meeting of Greencore, which will be held at the Berkeley Court Hotel, and will then march to Leinster House to lobby politicians.

Irish Sugar, part of Greencore, plans to close Carlow sugar factory in March and consolidate processing in Mallow as part of a major rationalisation programme, which will result in the loss of 189 full time and 137 seasonal jobs.