Book launch recalls 80 years of memories at Carlow sugar factory
Christopher Power speaking at the launch of his book 'The Carlow Sugar Factory' in the Seven Oaks Hotel Photos: michaelorourkephotography.ie
THE ballroom of the Seven Oaks Hotel was packed for the launch of Christopher Power’s latest book, , by cllr Charlie Murphy, cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council’s Centenary Committee, on Tuesday night, 19 November.
The 100-page book, subtitled The extraordinary story of an Irish industrial icon, is the culmination of four-and-a-half years’ work. It is a compelling read for Carlovians, generations of whom grew up working in ‘the factory’, which was the lifeblood of the county town’s economy for some 80 years.
The launch was attended by many former workers at the Athy Road sugar-processing plant, which ceased operations on Friday 11 March 2005. Also in attendance was a good number of former beet growers, who supplied the Carlow plant.
It was an occasion of genuine nostalgia, a night for people to meet up, who may not have done so since the factory’s closure in 2005. And while many a work friendship was renewed, there was also a palpable, lingering sentiment of regret that the closure of Ireland’s first sugar factory, the country’s sugar capital, should ever have happened.
In an extensive address, Christopher Power told his audience there was hardly a person in the room, himself included, who has not had some family member involved in the Carlow sugar factory, underlining the importance of the industry.
The author said the impact of the sugar factory could not be over-emphasised through ‘cross-pollination’ of skills into other local industries such as Burnside Engineering, Keenan’s of Borris or Carlow RTC.
In a passionate 15-minute address, farmer John Kehoe, long-time former member of the Beet Growers’ Association (BGA) and chairman of County Carlow Executive of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) at the time the factory closed, traced Carlow sugar factory from its establishment in 1926.
Carlow, he said, had become associated in the public mind as the headquarters of the sugar industry – the three other sugar factories had followed in 1934. By 1943, over 50,000 farmers had signed individual contracts to provide sugar beet across 22 of the 26 counties, the highest-ever number of Irish growers.
Everybody, he said, benefited from the sugar industry. Whether you were town or country, whether you worked in the Sugar Company or not, whether you were involved in hauling the pulp or molasses for animal feed, everybody benefited.
The Rathvilly farmer said that in 1991 Greencore took possession of Irish Sugar. “In that time, we lost control of the company and by 2005 the Carlow factory was closed in a commercial decision by a private company, Greencore, in a year where they made €10.5 million profit!”
John O’Gorman, executive librarian with Carlow County Library, was a very capable MC on the night.
is a commendable publication, with many photographs dotted through its pages, including a photo of the first day of the first beet campaign in 1926 – nine months after the turning of the first sod on 5 January of that year by Bishop Patrick Foley of Kildare and Leighlin.
