Factory closure spells emigration for many staff

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 American-owned company is to cease production in Caherciveen, at the end of this month, with the loss of 147 jobs, and 98 employees at its Tralee plant have been placed on protective notice.

One of the Caherciveen workers, Paudie O'Shea, who has been employed there for 10 years, said the only option that looked open to him was emigration as there were so few employment opportunities in the area.