Town’s last factory set to close with loss of 80 jobs

THE last factory is to close in a Co Cork town with the loss of 80 jobs.

Staff at Tytex, a Danish-owned company in Youghal, were informed of the closure by management yesterday afternoon.

The company, which has operated in the town’s Springfield Industrial Park for nearly 25 years, manufactures incontinence pants and medical textiles for the export market.

It is understood that these production lines are to be relocated to other plants in Eastern Europe and south-east Asia.

Following the announcement employees were told they could go home and needn’t return to work until next Monday. They were informed that the factory will close by March 2011.

At its height Tytex employed more than 150 people.

Some of the 80 workers who were told their jobs were gone have been with the company for more than 20 years.

There are also some married couples working at the plant.

The majority of staff are represented by SIPTU.

The news came as a bitter blow to the town which has lost more than 2,500 factory jobs in the past 10 years.

The Mayor of Youghal, Cllr Sandra McLellan, said she was shocked, but not entirely surprised by the announcement.

“It is always on the cards that companies will relocate to other countries with cheaper wage structures. Unfortunately there is nothing left in Youghal now. The biggest employer is probably the local psychiatric hospital, St Raphael’s,” Cllr McLellan said.

She had worked in a number of factories which have closed down in recent years, including Youghal Carpets, Dennison and Artesyn Technologies.

At its height Artesyn Technologies, an American-owned telecommunications company, employed 630 people. A similar number were also employed at one stage at Youghal Carpets.

Seafield Fabrics, Blackwater Cottons, Kodak and Bryant Rubbers have also closed their doors in recent years.

“We are now just a commuter town. People will have to travel even further to find work because there are simply no factories left here,” Cllr McLellan said.