Waterford plant to close with 60 jobs lost

Sixty workers are to lose their jobs with the closure of a leather plant in Portlaw, Co Waterford.

Michell Ireland is to close at the end of the year and employees received the news this afternoon.

The plant, which is the last major tannery in Ireland, opened 10 years ago and processes up to a quarter of Ireland's cattle hides.

The decision by the company's parent company has been blamed on ongoing losses, which have worsened in recent times because of the strong Euro and rising costs.

The company also says that the cost of meeting Environmental Protection Agency requirements was a major drain on its competitiveness.