The former Michell tannery plant at Portlaw in Ireland has been sold and will continue operating as a factory, although it has not been specified if it will be used as a tannery.
Three investors, including one from Waterford and one from Thurles, have paid close on €2.5 million for the Michell Ireland plant, which closed in December 2003 with the loss of 60 jobs.
The Michell Ireland factory first opened in 1993 and provided a massive boost to Portlaw which had suffered the closure of the Irish Leathers Plant in the town in 1985.
Michell’s parent company in Australia made the reluctant decision to close the tannery after global rationalisation in the leather industry exacerbated by a strong euro and rising costs in Ireland meant they were unable to continue in the business.
