Almost 400 jobs lost today

Nearly 370 jobs were lost around the country today through three company closures.

The bulk of the posts, 200, went when Navan Carpets, based in Navan, Co Meath, for the past 65 years, said it was closing down because of a substantial drop in exports – particularly to America – as well as a decrease in the home market.

The closure was announced to the workforce today as a court-appointed liquidator moved into the factory.

In Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, Powerscreen, which manufactures mobile screening equipment, said it was closing and 118 jobs would go.

And one of the country’s biggest bakeries, Neville Brothers, of Macroom, Co Cork, announced it was shutting up shop, creating 50 redundancies.