OTD: Shock as Kilkenny business closes down
On This Day (OTD): Fifty years ago inside the Kilkenny People (March 14, 1975)
Thirty-eight more workers from the South-East will join the ever-increasing dole queues when a Kilkenny industry closes down shortly.
The shock closure of the Silver River Shirt and Collar Company Ltd, at the Fair Green, Kilkenny, means an end to their jobs for 36 female workers and two male employees from April 4.
The shutdown follows close on the heels of the death of another Kilkenny factory, Kilkenny Knitwear Company, Callan, where between 35 and 40 workers, mostly female, became redundant when the firm put up the shutters’ some time ago.
Silver River Managing Director Mr TC McMullen blames the collapse of his Kilkenny firm on imports of cheap shirts from South Korea and Portugal.
He warns that the influx of these foreign goods which, have been coming, into the country, particularly during the past 18 months, could also spell the death knell for other industries.
Mr McMullen, who runs a similar factory at John Street West Dublin, has offered alternative employment to six of the Kilkenny girls at the Dublin factory. However, it is doubtful if this offer will be taken up.
“It is unfortunate that we have to close down after six years in Kilkenny,” he said.
“I am sorry for the girls but there is absolutely nothing I can do about it The reasons for the shutdown were completely outside my control.”
For some time the Kilkenny factory had been on a three-day week but finally a month’s notice was given to all employees. The firm’s Dublin plant had also been on a three-day week but is now back in full production.
A spokesman for the female employees told the Kilkenny People on Wednesday that although they had been on short time for some weeks the final notices came as a shock.
“We really regret losing our jobs here,” she said.
“We always got a fair deal and working conditions were excellent.”
However, at the same time the girls feel a bit sore about the whole affair. They claim that the Kilkenny factory is being closed so that the Dublin factory can return to full production.
MORE REDUNDANCY
Export market difficulties and antiquated machinery were given as the reasons for the end of Kilkenny Knitwear Company, Callan, which at peak production employed 70 workers, 75% of them female.