CALORIES ON MENUS ‘UNWORKABLE’

14/02/2015 by borderroamer

Restaurant Proprietors Conor Mee & Charlotte Carr Photo: Courthouse Restaurant/Pat Byrne

Calorie Information on Menus Will Not Work: Local chef and proprietor of the award-winning Courthouse Restaurant in Carrickmacross, Conor Mee, says he believes the government proposal to introduce calorie information on menus will not work. He told the Northern Standard the measures outlined in the Heads of a Bill designed to help tackle the problem of obesity would be unpoliceable. The Cabinet has approved proposals requiring all food outlets to post the information at the point where the food is ordered, whether at tables or counters. Drafting of legislation is expected to start immediately and should be ready for enactment by next year.

Adrian Cummins, CEO RAI Photo: ITIC Ireland

Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, said the introduction of calorie information on menus would have devastating effects on the restaurant industry, costing €5,000 on businesses and would have a knock-on effect in other sectors. The aim of this Bill is to encourage people to choose healthier options and to tackle the growing problem of obesity in Ireland. Mr. Cummins also commented, ‘I urge the government to reconsider this Bill in the interest of the restaurant industry and tourism’.

Mr Cummins reiterated that the ‘Nanny State’ proposals are an unnecessary burden on the restaurant owners, as the measures would be virtually impossible to monitor.

“How does the government propose that this will be monitored? Will inspectors be paid to eat out in all of Ireland’s 22,000 food outlets and check if each menu has calorie counts on them? Any chef will tell you that menus in restaurants vary from day-to-day and therefore calorie counting would be highly inaccurate anyway.”

The proposed laws will require all menus, including boards, leaflets, digital menus or other forms, to display the amount of calories alongside the price in the same font size and colour. The RAI represents the interests of its members and lobbies government on various issues.

Calorie counts on menus have already been introduced in the United States, with disastrous results. Five out of six customers paid no attention to the information, according to a study by New York University.

BOSE FACTORY TALKS

11/02/2015 by borderroamer

Bose factory, Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Union representatives and local politicians have welcomed the decision by the US-based management of Bose to extend the operation of the Carrickmacross plant until June. SIPTU Industrial Organiser Jim McVeigh met the Human Relations Director Barry Weaver in Carrick a week ago and is due to hold more discussions with him tomorrow (Thursday). It was agreed that the closure announced on January 22nd would be postponed beyond April, while talks continued on acceptable redundancy terms and other issues. Mr Weaver also met the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. in Dublin along with Pat McAdam of Bose Carrickmacross.

Sean Conlan T.D. Photo: © Michael Fisher

Fine Gael T.D. Sean Conlan said since the closure announcement was made he had lobbied both Mr Bruton and the IDA to ensure everything within their power would be done to save the 140 jobs. Following this representation Mr Bruton agreed to meet a delegation of Bose workers, the IDA and a SIPTU representative in Carrickmacross last Friday. A very constructive meeting took place with all involved and they discussed the future prospects of the Bose workers along with the need to ensure that
redundancy packages acceptable to the workers are put in place.

Deputy Conlan said the Bose plant was a state of the art plant and very well placed geographically given its close proximity to Dublin airport and the port. He said it was of the utmost importance the Industrial Development Authority used every resource available to market this plant globally in the best possible way in an effort to attract a new employer, and he was hopeful one would be found. The IDA who were represented by Emmanuel Dowdall confirmed that their eighteen overseas offices were looking for an alternative employer.

SIPTU Industrial Organiser Jim McVeigh Photo: © Michael Fisher

Jim McVeigh of SIPTU said the focus was on asking the IDA to try to attract other investors and to ensure alternative employment for the Bose workforce. Mr Mc Veigh added: “We welcome the agreement by the company to delay the proposed closure while other opportunities are examined by all of those concerned including the Minister and the agencies responsible for finding alternative employment. The closure of this plant, in Carrickmacross since 1978, is devastating for our members, a dedicated and skilled workforce, and for the town and surrounding areas in county Monaghan”.

MONAGHAN ON SONG AT PROMS

04/02/2015 by borderroamer

My report from the RDS Arena in Dublin on Sunday. Northern Standard Thursday 5th February 2015.

MONAGHAN IN SONG AT PEACE PROMS 2015

Knockconan NS, Emyvale Photo: © Michael Fisher

Eight national schools and five young musicians from County Monaghan contributed to a great spectacle of music and song at the Arena of the Royal Dublin Society at the weekend. On Saturday evening, the Model School from Monaghan town took part in the Peace Proms 2015. On Sunday afternoon, seven Monaghan schools helped to form the large choir of schoolchildren performing at the same event along with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland.

St Dympna’s NS, Tydavnet Photo: © Michael Fisher

It was a major operation to get a total of 180 schools from different parts of the country distributed over four performances in the course of two days, usually with the same arrangement of songs and music on each occasion. The seven schools I met all had to leave Monaghan early on Sunday morning, in order to arrive at the RDS at 11.30am in time for a rehearsal. The massed choir and musicians practised together for nearly an hour and were then given a break for lunch. But half an hour before the 2pm performance they had to be ready to go back to take their seats on the stage.

St Joseph’s Boys NS Carrickmacross with Principal Paul Fitzpatrick Photo: © Michael Fisher

Carrickmacross was represented by Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa, Cloughvalley, and St Joseph’s Boys’ National School, Farney Street. There were pupils and their teachers from Knockconan National School, Emyvale, and St Dympna’s National School, Tydavnet. There were also representatives from St. Louis Girls’ National School, Park Road in Monaghan town; Scoil Mhuire, Moys, Clontibret and also Scoil Mhuire National School, Latton, Castleblayney.

The first half of the concert included favourites such as “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Climb Every Mountain”. In the second half the large audience was serenaded with “Ireland’s Call” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and several other popular songs.

Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa Carrickmacross with Principal Maeve Callan Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Peace Proms is a choral education project for Primary Schools devised and delivered by the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland. Over 15,000 children from 300 schools participate in Peace Proms annually. It is not a “classical orchestra”. Their music highlights the pop, folk and traditional cultures of the island of Ireland. They use all the instruments of a full symphony orchestra but include traditional instruments.

The five Monaghan members of the orchestra include two sets of siblings. Laura Rahill who plays the cello attends the St Louis Secondary School in Carrickmacross. Her brother Donal, a student at the Patrician High School, plays the violin. Tara Nic Giolla Seanáin from Clontibret is a harpist and attends Coláiste Oiriall in Monaghan, where she is in third year. Her younger sister Rossa is in first year and plays the violin in the orchestra. Their mother Eleanor Gilsenan, a teacher in Threemilehouse, is a member of the CBOI Parents’ Association. The fifth person from the county in the orchestra is another pupil from St Louis Secondary, Carrickmacross. Laura McKenna plays the flute.

Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Moys, Clontibret Photo: © Michael Fisher

Many of the CBOI’s commissions have been written by Brian Byrne who is recognised as one of Ireland leading contemporary composers and arrangers. The Belfast Peace Proms with schools from Northern Ireland are being held next Sunday 8th February at the Odyssey Arena. A similar event will also be staged in Limerick at the end of the month.

Scoil Mhuire NS, Latton, Castleblayney Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland which runs the Proms was established in 1995 as a peace initiative and is now composed of 120 young people from all over Ireland – north and south. It encourages diversity through music and community. It is internationally recognised as one of Ireland’s flagship peace initiatives. The Orchestra is led by some of Ireland’s top professional musicians including: conductor, Gearóid Grant, violinist, Patricia Treacy and tenor, Emmet Cahill.

St Louis Girls’ NS, Monaghan Photo: © Michael Fisher

This poem by 12 year-old Eimear Treanor, a pupil at Knockconan National School, from Faulkland, Glaslough, was awarded first prize in the Peace Proms 2015 poetry competition. Her parents received complimentary tickets for the concert at the R.D.S. Arena, in which Eimear participated.

PEACE by Eimear Treanor:

Knockconan N.S., Emyvale, Co. Monaghan

For there to be peace in the world

There must be peace in the continents

For there to be peace in the continents

There must be peace in the country

For there to be peace in the country

There must be peace in the province

For there to be peace in the province

There must be peace in the county

For there to be peace in the county

There must be peace in the town

For there to be peace in the town

There must be peace in the village

For there to be peace in the village

There must be peace in the home

For there to be peace in the home

There must be peace in the heart.

All but three are my photos. The one on the top right of the Model School Monaghan is copyright Rory Geary/Northern Standard. The top one is copyright Anamaria Meiu/Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland. Knockconan NS supplied the picture of Eimear Treanor.

BOSE BLOW STUNS CARRICK

02/02/2015 by borderroamer

Northern Standard p.1 Thursday 28th January 2014 Michael Fisher

Bose factory, Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Carrickmacross was stunned by the unexpected announcement a week ago that the Bose factory is to close in April with the loss of 140 jobs. Now a government Minister has been asked to intervene to establish if the decision by the US-based multinational can be reversed or deferred to give the state agencies an opportunity to seek a replacement business. The news came as a shocking New Year blow for several mortgage holders, and family members, dependent on a weekly wage from the Bose plant. People like Pat McNally from Corduff, who has worked at the plant from the day it was opened in October 1978.
Immediately after the revelation, local political leaders, as well as civic, community, and local authority representatives began to explore what steps they might take to have the shut-down deferred. A number of efforts are underway, at state agency level, to attract replacement jobs. Three TDs from Cavan/Monaghan, Arts Minister Heather Humphreys, Caoimghín O Caolaín and Brendan Smith met the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton, at his office in Dublin on Tuesday afternoon. They were accompanied by senior staff from the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland. Mr Bruton gave them a commitment he would seek a direct meeting with the Human Resources executive from Bose, Barry Weaver, who is due to return to Carrickmacross in the next 24 hours. Mr Weaver was one of two US-based management representatives who came to County Monaghan a week ago to break the news to the workforce, who had assembled in the canteen to watch a video link. They were expecting the usual quarterly update from the company President. Even the local management had been unprepared for the sudden statement that was read out, announcing that the plant would close in April, after nearly 37 years in Carrick.
Mr O Caoláin said it might be necessary for Mr Bruton to seek a meeting with the top level of the Bose Corporation in the United States. The initial request to the company would be that it reverses the decision, but if it was unwilling to change its mind, then a deferral of the closure should be sought, he told the Northern Standard. The proposed April date left a very narrow window for any alternative investor, either foreign or indigenous, to be found. The workers in South Carolina had been given nearly eight months before that Bose facility is shut down. Heather Humphreys said the IDA had not been given any advance notification of the company’s plans. She said she would be working with all the constituency representatives to try to persuade Bose not to close but she said it would be wrong to raise any false hopes for the workers at this stage. Brendan Smith said they needed to send out a strong message to the Bose Board and President that the decision, which had left the highly-skilled workforce devastated, needed to be overturned.
Following the meeting between Oireachtas members from Cavan/Monaghan and the Enterprise Minister, a briefing was held at Leinster House in the office of Sean Conlan TD for a delegation from Monaghan County Council, led by the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Padraig McNally. He was accompanied by Councillors PJ O’Hanlon, Colm Carthy, Aidan Campbell and Paudge Connolly. Senator Diarmuid Wilson also attended as did the Director of Services of Monaghan County Council, Paul Clifford, and John McEntegart, Head of Monaghan Local Enterprise Office. Mr Clifford later revealed that the factory site set up by the IDA in 1978 is no longer owned by the Authority, but is in private hands and remains under lease to Bose.
COMPANY STATEMENT
A copy of the 290-word statement announcing that US and Irish jobs would be ‘eliminated’ was issued to local public representatives and the media by an international PR company in Dublin on behalf of Bose. It stated bluntly:
“Bose Corporation has announced it will be consolidating its wholly-owned manufacturing operations, closing its facilities in Columbia, South Carolina, and Carrickmacross, Ireland, to streamline the company’s global supply chain. Operations in South Carolina will continue until September 2015; operations in Ireland will continue until April 2015. During that time, both workforces will be reduced, and work will transfer to other Bose facilities around the world with duplicative capabilities.

The Columbia, South Carolina facility opened in 1996 and currently has approximately 300 Bose employees. It houses a North American distribution/repair center, and does sub- and final-assembly for some headsets, and some remanufacturing for the region. A final decision on a new location for distribution/repair has not yet been made; other operations will transfer to Bose facilities in Arizona and Mexico. All jobs at the Bose South Carolina campus will be eliminated.
The Carrickmacross, Ireland facility opened in 1978 and currently has approximately 140 Bose employees. It provides final assembly for select home theater systems and Wave® radios for the European market, and some remanufacturing for the region. Operations will transfer to Bose facilities in Malaysia and Mexico. All work will cease at the Bose Ireland facility. Impacted employees have been informed, and all employees who lose their jobs based on these actions will receive outplacement services and severance support.
‘Our rapid global growth requires us to keep pace with our customers, dealers, distributors, resellers and stores, and serve them as efficiently as possible,’ said Bryan Fontaine, executive vice president of global operations and corporate development engineering. ‘But these are still difficult decisions because they impact our very capable teams in South Carolina and Ireland. We thank all of them for their dedication, and we thank the communities of Columbia and Carrickmacross for their years of support.’
UNION RESPONSE
SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser Jim McVeigh said that when the workers were informed by management last Thursday the plant was to close, it came as a complete bolt out of the blue. It was devastating news for staff, their families and the wider community. Workers were given a day off on Friday. At a packed meeting in the Nuremore Hotel on Monday evening, SIPTU representatives briefed local politicians on the situation and enlisted their support in the union’s efforts to save the jobs. Mr McVeigh added: “the vast majority of the workforce live in County Monaghan and the plant closure will have a very significant negative impact on the local economy. He said the union was committed to doing everything possible to protect the interests of the workforce.
The atmosphere at the Nuremore was in complete contrast to the gathering there in October 1978, when 150 guests enjoyed a sumptuous reception and luncheon, marking the official opening of the plant by the then Education Minister, the late John Wilson TD. The plant was first blessed by the local Parish Priest. Further details of how the IDA originally set itself a target of creating 4000 new manufacturing jobs in the North East region at the time can be found in Carrickmacross News.

BOSE which has its headquarters at Framingham in Massachusetts was founded by a college Professor of Electrical Engineering and classical music enthusiast Dr Amar Bose in 1964. Before he died in 2013, Dr. Bose donated a majority stake in his company to MIT, the Boston school where he earned three degrees in engineering and taught a course in acoustics. The company employs around 10,500 people internationally and has sales of $3.3 billion.

Carrickmacross provides final assembly for select home theatre systems and radios for the European market, as well as some remanufacturing for the region. It was chosen by the US company because of the local expertise in furniture making. Bose developed wooden cabinets for their high-fidelity speakers and these were sourced in County Monaghan. The US company’s presence attracted a spin-off for local suppliers.
The factory closure whilst having a direct impact on the 140 staff will also affect those who supply services for the plant, such as printers and couriers. This was one of the main concerns on the streets of Carrickmacross during the past week. Local people are waiting to see whether any of the initiatives promised by the politicians will bear fruit over the coming days.

MONAGHAN AT PEACE PROMS 2015

01/02/2015 by borderroamer

Peace Proms 2015 at RDS Photo: © Michael Fisher

It has been a great weekend of music and song at the Royal Dublin Society’s Simonscourt Hall in Ballsbridge in Dublin. This afternoon seven national schools from County Monaghan helped to form the large choir of schoolchildren performing at the Peace Proms 2015 along with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland. Last night (Saturday) the Model school from Monaghan town took part. This afternoon I met all seven schools from County Monaghan, who arrived at the complex at 11:30am for a rehearsal.

Peace Proms 2015 at RDS Photo: © Michael Fisher

Two schools came from Carrickmacross, Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa, Cloughvalley, and St Joseph’s National School, Farney Street. I also met pupils and their teachers from Knockconan National School, Emyvale, and my neighbours from St Dympna’s National School, Tydavnet. There were also representatives from St. Louis Girls’ National School, Park Road in Monaghan town; Scoil Mhuire, Moys, Clontibret and finally Scoil Mhuire National School, Latton, Castleblayney.

Peace Proms 2015 at RDS Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI) was established in 1995 as a peace initiative and is now composed of 120 young people from all over Ireland – north and south. It encourages diversity through music and community. The CBOI is internationally recognised as one of Ireland’s flagship peace initiatives and has become one of the most acclaimed youth orchestras that Ireland has ever produced. The Orchestra is led by some of Ireland’s top professional musicians including: Conductor, Gearóid Grant; Violinist, Patricia Treacy; Tenor, Emmanuel Lawler; and Uilleann Piper, Patrick Martin. The CBOI undertakes a National Spring Tour annually performing at:

The Waterfront Hall, Belfast / the Ulster Hall, Belfast
The Kingfisher Hall, NUI, Galway / Leisureland, Galway
City Hall, Cork
The Hub, Kilkenny
City West, Dublin / the National Concert Hall, Dublin / the Helix, DCU, Dublin
Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Donegal
The Opera House, Derry
The INEC Killarney, Kerry
Limerick University
Dundalk Institute of Technology

The Orchestra has performed for:

President McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin
Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle (Ensemble performance)
Many special international Ministerial gatherings at Slane Castle and Dublin Castle.
Numerous national commemorations including:
The Battle of the Boyne
10^th Anniversary of the Belfast Agreement
30^th Anniversary of the twinning of Listowel and Downpatrick
400^th Anniversary of the Flight of the Earls in Rome.

International tours and showcase of the best of Ireland:

ROYAL ALBERT HALL LONDON – The CBOI performed to a capacity crowd at the Royal Albert Hall London in 2012 and is only the 3^rd Irish orchestra in our history to have performed there.
WORLD EXPO SHANGHAI – The CBOI represented Ireland, the UK and Europe at the historic World EXPO in Shanghai in 2010 where they received an award for the most “Outstanding International Performance”.
CARNEGIE HALL NEW YORK – The CBOI has toured to the United States many times selling out prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, New York, Chicago Symphony Hall, and Boston Symphony Hall. The CBOI as also sold out concerts in eight cities throughout California including San Fransisco and Los Angeles
EUROPE – The CBOI has performed in many European countries such as Italy, England, Czech Republic and Finland.
Peace Proms 2015 at RDS Photo: © Michael Fisher

The CBOI plays a vital role in enhancing Music and Arts education in Ireland thourgh “Peace Proms”. Peace Proms is a choral education project for Primary Schools devised and delivered by the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland. Over 15,000 children from 300 schools participate in Peace Proms annually. It is not a “classical orchestra”. Their music highlights the pop, folk and traditional cultures of the island of Ireland. They use all the instruments of a full symphony orchestra but include traditional instruments for example Lambeg Drums, Uilleann Pipes and Highland Pipes. Many of the CBOI’s commissions have been written by Brian Byrne who is recognised as one of Ireland leading contemporary composers and arrangers. Based in Los Angeles, Brian is an IFTA winner and OSCAR nominee.

Peace Proms 2015 Commemorative Brochure

Over the past 18 years, the CBOI has played an important role in building and nurturing vital cross border and cross community relations. We are delighted to have recently established a link with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch and look forward to showcasing our combined cultural talents and working with them for a better future.
Belfast Odyssey Arena Sunday 8th February 3pm Belfast Peace Proms
Limerick Saturday 28th February

BOSE BLOW STUNS CARRICK

29/01/2015 by borderroamer

Northern Standard Thursday 28th January 2015 Story by Michael Fisher © Northern Standard

Having contributed the lead story in today’s Northern Standard Thursday 29th January about the suddenly announced the closure of the Bose factory, I also filled three pages with Carrickmacross News.

I also contributed two stories featuring Bishop MacDaid of Clogher.

I enjoyed dipping into the archives to be shown the copy of the paper in October 1978 in which the official opening of the Bose factory was featured. It was carried out by my former Latin teacher (1967-69) the late John Wilson TD, then Minister for Education. The plant was blessed by Archdeacon Morris of Carrickmacross. Two TDs at the time Dr Rory O’ Hanlon and Jimmy Leonard are now retired.

The Minister for Education, Mr. John Wilson, T.D., cuts the tape to officially open the new Bose factory at Carrickmacross. Pictured along with top management are Monsignor Morris, Archdeacon, Carrickmacross (third from left) and Mr. Stanley. A. Hendryx, Managing Director (extreme right) Photo: © Northern Standard

The 150 guests were taken on a tour of the factory, “prior to a sumptuous reception and luncheon at Hotel Nuremore, Carrickmacross”.

A section of the crowd who attended the official opening of the new Bose Ireland factory at Carrickmacross last Friday. Included in the picture are Dr. Rory O’Hanlon, T.D.; Deputy J. Leonard, T.D.; Mr. T.J. Finlay, Chairman of Carrickmacross U.D.C., and Mr. P. McEneaney, M.C.C., Carrickmacross Photo: © Northern Standard

BOSE CLOSURE REACTION

24/01/2015 by borderroamer

Bose factory, Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael

Super Junior Minister for Business and Enterprise Ged Nash TD issued the following response on behalf of the government to the news that the BOSE plant in Carrickmacross is to be shut down with the loss of 140 jobs.

“My thoughts are with the workers at Bose and their families following the regrettable announcement by the company that it will cease operations at its Carrickmacross facility in April.

All the supports of the State will be made available to all of the workers affected by this situation. Despite the much improved news on the job creation front in this country the situation faced by Bose is a reminder that the fight to sustain and win new jobs is a continuous one and the challenge to maintain our attractiveness for investment in an increasingly competitive market is a challenge we must take on each day.

I personally will be following up with our State Agencies including the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to pursue other job creation opportunities in the Carrickmacross area and across the North East region. The IDA is currently contacting their network of offices worldwide to try to find a suitable company to invest in the region and take on this highly skilled workforce.”

Carrickmacross Market House Photo: © Michael Fisher

Following the announcement the President of Carrickmacross Chamber of Commerce Jim Hand called on the government to find new jobs for the area.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith expressed his serious disappointment following the announcement by BOSE. Mr Smith said “this is a terrible loss to the 140 employees, their families and indeed the local community. BOSE has been a significant employer in the town for almost 4 decades and the effects of the closure will be felt across the county. Many of the workers have been there for more than 30 years and have built up extensive skills and experience.”

Brendan Smith TD

“This Government repeatedly claims that jobs are its number one priority. However, the border region has been left out of the frame, with few investment opportunities emerging. In fact last year there were no IDA sponsored visits to sites in Monaghan; a further indication of the Government’s lack of interest in the county.”

“The Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton TD must step up to the mark and ensure that the Government’s dismal record on investment in Monaghan is reversed. I am urging him to intervene, along with the State’s Industrial Promotion Agencies to engage in immediate discussions with the BOSE Corporation and press strongly for the retention of these jobs in Carrickmacross.”

The statement issued by a Dublin PR company on behalf of BOSE is as follows:-

“Bose Corporation has announced it will be consolidating its wholly-owned manufacturing operations, closing its facilities in Columbia, South Carolina, and Carrickmacross, Ireland, to streamline the company’s global supply chain. Operations in South Carolina will continue until September 2015; operations in Ireland will continue until April 2015. During that time, both workforces will be reduced, and work will transfer to other Bose facilities around the world with duplicative capabilities.

The Carrickmacross, Ireland facility opened in 1978 and currently has approximately 140 Bose employees. It provides final assembly for select home theater systems and Wave® radios for the European market, and some remanufacturing for the region. Operations will transfer to Bose facilities in Malaysia and Mexico. All work will cease at the Bose Ireland facility. Impacted employees have been informed, and all employees who lose their jobs based on these actions will receive outplacement services and severance support.

‘Our rapid global growth requires us to keep pace with our customers, dealers, distributors, resellers and stores, and serve them as efficiently as possible,’ said Bryan Fontaine, executive vice president of global operations and corporate development engineering. ‘But these are still difficult decisions because they impact our very capable teams in South Carolina and Ireland. We thank all of them for their dedication, and we thank the communities of Columbia and Carrickmacross for their years of support.’ “

BOSE TO CLOSE CARRICKMACROSS PLANT

23/01/2015 by borderroamer

Union representatives will meet management at the BOSE audio systems plant in Carrickmacross next week, after the multinational suddenly announced it is to close the plant in April, with the loss of 140 jobs. The company has been manufacturing audio products in Monaghan since 1978 but will wind down operations within three months. In a statement on Thursday evening, the US-based business said it would be consolidating its wholly-owned manufacturing operations, closing its facilities in Columbia (South Carolina, USA), and Carrickmacross, Ireland, in order to streamline the company’s global supply chain.

BOSE which has its headquarters at Framingham in Massachusetts was founded by a college Professor and classical music enthusiast Dr Amar Bose in 1964. Before he died in 2013, Dr. Bose donated a majority stake in his company to MIT, the Boston school where he earned three degrees in electrical engineering and taught a course in acoustics. The company employs around 10,500 people internationally and has sales of $3.3 billion.

Carrickmacross provides final assembly for select home theatre systems and radios for the European market, as well as some remanufacturing for the region. The Irish operation is due to transfer to BOSE facilities in Malaysia and Mexico.

BOSE executive Vice-President of global operations and corporate development engineering, Bryan Fontaine, said the move came to keep pace with demand from customers and resellers. He said the company’s rapid global growth required them to keep pace with their customers, dealers, distributors, resellers and stores and to serve them as efficiently as possible. These were difficult decisions because they impacted on their very capable teams in Ireland and South Carolina, he said, and he went on to thank the local communities including Carrickmacross for their years of support.

SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser Jim McVeigh said the workers were told today by management that the plant was to close in the coming weeks. This came as a complete bolt out of the blue for the workers. It is devastating news for staff, their families and the wider community, he said. Workers have been given a day off today (Friday). Mr McVeigh said he intended to meet the workers and management of the plant on Monday afternoon to discuss what could be done to save their jobs. On Monday evening SIPTU representatives will brief local politicians on the situation and enlist their support in the union’s efforts to save the jobs. He added: “the vast majority of the workforce lives in Monaghan and the plant closure will have a very significant negative impact on the local economy. There are over 140 people employed at this plant and SIPTU is committed to doing everything possible to protect their interests.”

Sean Conlan TD Photo: FG

Cavan/Monaghan Fine Gael TD Sean Conlan said he was very sad to hear of the closure of the BOSE plant in Carrickmacross owing to their global restructuring plan.

“The loss of jobs at Bose, which has been a major employer in South Monaghan for many years, is very upsetting for employees and their families, and the fact that this closure is due to take place so soon adds further stress. I have contacted the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, to ask that his department coordinates with the IDA in the hope of extending the notice period.”

“It is important now that alternative employment is found for those who have been left out of work due to today’s decision. I can confirm that the IDA is currently contacting their network of offices worldwide to try to find a suitable company to invest in the region and take on this highly skilled workforce. All the supports of the State will be made available to all of the workers affected by this situation”, said Mr Conlan.

Matt Carthy MEP Photo: SF

Midlands North West Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy, who is from Carrickmacross, said: “I know many of the 140 full time BOSE staff personally and I am absolutely devastated to hear of the planned closure of this manufacturing plant in Carrickmacross. The plant is a well established local employer and the announcement today will cause widespread disbelief. Today’s announcement is not just a harsh blow to the staff and their families but to the wider community and local economy, which will be severely impacted by the closure of the plant.”

“Unfortunately, this area has been ignored by too long by successive Governments. I recently highlighted the fact that Monaghan has only has two visits by the IDA in the past 5 years and many will remember that Bose was the last significant employer attracted to this region by the IDA in the late 70s. I am calling on Minister Bruton to immediately engage with the senior management at the plant and attempt to preserve these jobs.”

Full report in next week’s Northern Standard.

CARRICKMACROSS NEWS

14/01/2015 by borderroamer

My job for the next few months is to represent the Northern Standard as Carrickmacross correspondent in South Monaghan while the staff journalist is on maternity leave (congratulations Veronica on the new arrival!). I enclose the first two pages of Carrickmacross news from last Thursday’s edition (January 8th 2015). Pictures are by Pat Byrne.

If you have a story from the area you can contact me at standardcarricknews@yahoo.ie or telephone (042) 9663890 on a Monday/Tuesday or contact the Monaghan office on a Wednesday (047) 82188.

JB THE FUNDRAISER FROM KILLANNY

John Byrne, Killanny Photo: © Michael Fisher

Around the parish of Killanny and further afield everyone knows him simply as ‘JB’. John Byrne from Lannatt is a former mechanic who used to repair and sell cars. Once it was easy work for him to lift an engine out of a car. But a heart attack thirteen years ago which he was lucky to survive meant he would have difficulty for a time lifting small objects such as a can of peas. He is now doing everything he can to ensure that potentially life-saving equipment is readily available at strategic points throughout the parish such as the parochial hall and a local restaurant.
Chatting to him at his house he told me how he had once been an active sportsman. He played football for Killanny GAA Club and also represented the county mainly at under-21 and minor level. He captained the Killanny side that won the double (championship and league) in 1979 earning them promotion from junior to intermediate and eventually senior level. He went on to become chairman and also manager of the club. But in February 2002 at a time when his work was becoming more and more pressurized he had a heart attack. He was taken to hospital in Dundalk and transferred to Dublin for treatment. Three months later he knew he was beginning to recover when he was able to walk from his house along the laneway that leads to the main road. But it would take nearly two years before he could resume work. His wife Noeleen and daughter Aoife (a keen footballer) were then able to help him in his next project. During his rehabilitation in Dundalk hospital JB noticed there was a need for equipment in a small gym that had been established there. So he helped to raise IR£4500 by asking a number of friends to do a bunjee jump at a parish sports day. Then in 2007 a stroll near the River Glyde inspired him to do a river walk, not alongside but in the water itself. Dressed as James Bond and wearing a dry suit over his tuxedo and bow tie, he managed to walk two miles in the river, ending up by killing off a crocodile-like figure that had been put in the water to introduce a bit of drama. His friends at the Riverbank pub provided sustenance after he successfully completed his task. The money raised was enough to provide six defribrillators which were installed at the GAA pitch and other public areas around the parish. They are kept inside specially marked boxes and cost around IR£3000 each. Now the emphasis is on training people in how to use them. JB’s target is to get two people in every household in Killanny (population around 1200) trained in the use of these devices. The youngest person trained so far is 15 and the oldest 85. As the man himself put it: ‘the fun part was the fundraising, the work is only starting now’.

Michael Fisher's News

Tag Archives: Carrickmacross

CALORIES ON MENUS ‘UNWORKABLE’

BOSE FACTORY TALKS

MONAGHAN ON SONG AT PROMS

MONAGHAN IN SONG AT PEACE PROMS 2015

BOSE BLOW STUNS CARRICK

MONAGHAN AT PEACE PROMS 2015

BOSE BLOW STUNS CARRICK

BOSE CLOSURE REACTION

BOSE TO CLOSE CARRICKMACROSS PLANT

CARRICKMACROSS NEWS

Share this:

Share this:

MONAGHAN IN SONG AT PEACE PROMS 2015

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: