The demise of Irish sugar is a warning that more will follow

AS Irish beet growers and sugar workers effectively receive their long distance redundancy notices, the challenge of world competition for Irish farmers and food processors is clear.

One by one the sugar factories which bustled with activity at Tuam, Thurles, and Carlow went, and it cannot be too long before the lights go out at Mallow.

For farm families and workers in the factories, hauliers, contractors who lived for generations on beet growing and processing, it will be sad to see it go. The reality is that a once thriving industry can no longer compete.