THE final blow to the troubled Sports Socks operation, which once employed 266 people in Co Kerry, was delivered, yesterday, when the company announced it is to end manufacturing in Ireland.

The Sports Socks Company, located in Cahirciveen and Tralee in Co Kerry, is to phase out manufacturing in Ireland with the loss of 165 jobs.

MANY employees of the Sport Socks company, which is due to close in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, are now faced with emigration, or least leaving the area, following large-scale redundancies.

THE loss of 147 industrial jobs, in Co Kerry, with a further 119 jobs also in serious danger, was described as a major blow to the area, last night.