One hundred and fifty miners work in Ballingarry collieries in County Tipperary but the future of their jobs is uncertain.
The coal mine has been in difficulties in recent years, having received £280,000 of public money to keep it going in 1971, when a State receiver was also appointed. Unfortunately these efforts were not enough to keep the mines operating profitably in the longer term, and the government decided that it will not receive any more public funding.
Miners’ representatives have been to see the Minister to try to change the government’s mind, and anxiously await news on the future of the the colliery at Ballingarry.
Having been brought up from the mines two hours earlier than usual, the miners and union shop stewards tell reporter Bill Skinner what they think should happen to the mine, and are frank about their future employment options, as one man states,
I’m going to have to emigrate out of the place, there’s no work around here.
Miners disagree with the government’s view that the mine is not profitable, claiming that new machinery, recently purchased, will enable the mine to continue to make money. They intend to continue to mine the coal, and sell it themselves directly to the consumer, disregarding the directions of management,
We don’t care what way they look on it. All we want is our jobs.
Ballingarry mines closed in 1973.
This report for ‘Tangents’ was first broadcast on 26 September 1972. The reporters are Bill Skinner and John O'Donoghue.
A miscellany of events, entertainment, opinions and personalities, 'Tangents' was first aired on Monday 25 September, 1972 and ran until 1974. Tangents was presented by Cathal O'Shannon and Doireann Ní Bhriain on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and by John O'Donoghue each Tuesday.
