Closure of Batchelor’s is a dark day for Athy

Republican Sinn Fein Vice President describes the announcement by Bathcelor's that it is to close its Athy plant as " a dark day in the economic history of Athy".

The announcement on February 8 that Batchelor’s is to close its pea processing plant in Athy with the loss of 16 jobs marks a dark day in the economic history of Athy. For working people one of their most valued assets is their job, the loss of what has been a long valued local employment is a huge blow for the people of Athy.

The closure of the Batchelor’s factory is also a setback for the local farming community and coming so soon after the closure of the Carlow Sugar factory is another sign that Irish agriculture as result of EU policy is under serious threat.

In recent years Athy has lost several industries such as Shuttleworth and Peerless Rugs, without any of these jobs being replaced. Such haemorrhaging of jobs if unchecked will cripple the economic life of our town.