Town hit by jobs crisis needs a united front

EAST Cork has been dealt another cruel blow in the run-up to Christmas. Almost 100 jobs are to be lost at Courtisan Carpets after the company announced it was bringing carpet manufacturing in Youghal to an end after 52 years.

This is the second employment blow to the town within days. Last week, Youghal fishermen learned with dismay that their livelihoods are to be undermined through the termination of drift net fishing.

The Youghal area is certainly going through a bad patch. Some years ago road infrastructure and other services were put in place to accommodate a Merrill Dow plant in Killeagh. But, like the proposed Cork/Youghal train, it never arrived.