ENNISTYMON has been hit with a sense of despair with little confidence that the 100 jobs at Daktronics will be saved.
As reported by The Clare Echo last week, up to 100 jobs are at risk at Daktronics’ plant in Ennistymon with the US multinational entering into a collective redundancy consultation.
Daktronics announced last week that it was considering withdrawing from the international transportation business, this is subject to the collective redundancy consultation process, with the future of the Ennistymon facility and the affected Ireland-based roles yet to be decided.
Cllr Shane Talty (FF) labelled the potential of job losses in Ennistymon as “really devastating news” which will hurt the entire county.
He said, “This is a huge blow not just to Ennistymon but across the North & West of Clare. Daktronics has been a bedrock, high quality employer in the town for many decades and these job losses would be deeply felt in the area. It brings huge worry and uncertainty for the employees there, especially homes where more than one person is working there”.
On Thursday, the workforce of Daktronics began an internal process to appoint five representatives to engage on their behalf with the company over the next four weeks.
Politicians including Cllr Talty have said they will be engaging with the nominees from the workforce to assist in trying to save the jobs. “I have been in contact with national TDs and Senators regards the seriousness of this announcement for our area and the need to activate all state supports available”.
As Lahinch and Ennistymon basked in the success of the Walker Cup over the weekend, there remained a cloud of sadness with the expected job losses that will hurt the area.
Founded in 1979 by Kevin Neville, Data Display became one of Europe’s largest producers of electronic displays. It was acquired by Daktronics in 2014 for an undisclosed sum. In 2014, it employed 150 people with signs made by the firm used by commuters travelling on the New York subway, the Dart in Dublin, the Metro in Paris and the London Underground.
