‘Nenagh will survive the loss’

ONE group of Procter & Gamble workers headed off for the Hibernian in Pearse Street.

The first call was for a round of hearty breakfasts.

However, there was a palpable sense of relief that all was not lost.

The 280 jobs to go in the skincare products line will be a huge blow. But theretention of 220 workers on the cosmetics line will help the pallor of the industrial face of the town.

Local auctioneer and builder Michael Gilmartin said Fianna Fáil, the party he supports, has not been doing enough in government to get new manufacturing jobs for Nenagh.

But he said Nenagh will get over the jobs loss at Procter & Gamble.

He said: “The town itself is a rich town now. It can cope with this, not comfortably, but it can cope.”

The town had seen huge growth, with a population in the region of 7,000.

People will still locate and build homes in Nenaghbecause of its proximity to Limerick and good value to be found in the local property market, he said.

Publican, Martin Morris, owner of the Hibernian, said the two-year period over which jobs will be phased out will give workers time to find new jobs.

“The impact won’t be as big as we thought 24 hours ago. I think the workers and business people in the town will be relieved at the way it is being phased.”

But as Procter & Gamble workers drifted homeward one ominous reality hung over Nenagh, and indeed the wider economy.

Workers at the Nenagh plant have gross incomes in the region of €2,800 a month. The Polish plant which will take over the manufacture of skincare products will pay its workforce a monthly wage in the region of €233.