Bring back our sugar industry

RECENTLY we have seen headlines in the press about the revival of the sugar industry in Ireland.

I saw it being set up originally in the 1930s when a state company, Cómlacht Siúcra Eireann Teo, was formed. It canvassed growers and the small farmers responded very well as sugar beet was a good cash crop. Kerry growers benefited from it and a Castlegregory man, Patrick McKenna of Tullig, Castlegregory won the trophy for good beet production.

As time went by, larger growers included sugar beet into their rotation.

While the production of sugar was essential for the country, it also had the advantage that the by-product, known as pulp, was an important feed for farm animals. All growers were entitled to a quota of it at a reasonable rate. The top of the beet — the crown — could be left in the field or spread on any land also as an animal feed. As the larger farmers became well mechanised, they got most of the contracts from the company, particularly if they were close to one of the factories and the company did not have the cost of transporting the beet a long distance. The Irish Sugar Beet Growers Association was dominated by big farmers and smaller growers had to drop out because they could not get contracts.

The growers made one mistake — they did not seek to get shares in the company even though they produced the raw material.

Such shares would have yielded dividends and proved they were the real owners of the industry.

Later, the larger farmers reduced the production of sugar beet.

Why was the name of the company changed from Cómlucht Siúcra Eireann Teo to Greencore?

The control was snatched out of the farmers hands and into Greencore.

I would welcome the restoration of the Irish sugar industry because of the money it brought to rural areas.

The country benefited from the four factories, in Carlow, Thurles, Tuam and Mallow, which provided much-needed employment.

What caused their closure and who was responsible?

James Courtney

Castlegregory

Co Kerry