Diamond materials firm to lay off at least 60 workers in Shannon

A company that manufactures diamond materials for industrial use is to lay off at least 60 workers at its plant in Shannon, Co Clare.

Unions at the Element Six factory were informed of the redundancies yesterday evening and management is due to discuss the situation with staff later today.

The jobs are expected to be shed in the administrative section of the company, which has been operating in Shannon for over 45 years.

Local Fine Gael councillor Madeline Taylor Quinn said today that the news was a devastating blow for the Shannon region.

"I just hope that this is not the beginning of a trend," she said.