Republican News · Thursday 03 August 2000

Belmullet job losses

As fast as Tanaiste, Mary Harney, announces the opening of factories in the Dublin region, another factory closes down, usually in the West.

This week, Warners in Belmullet closed with the loss of 114 jobs. Warners had operated for 10 years. Only 18 months ago, Asahi closed its doors. As Vincent Wood, Sinn Féin activist in Mayo says: ``It is a disaster for Mayo. At one time, the factory employed 200 workers, about 20% of the population in the town. The closure just underlines the trend of continuing depopulation of the west, which has drawn out few of the economic benefits of recent growth rates on the east.'' hr size=2 align=center> Contents Page for this Issue