The Wolseley plumbing and building supplies group is to lay-off 180 staff nationwide and close four stores around the country.
The company, which is cutting 2,300 jobs in the UK, operates the Heat Merchants, Tubs and Tiles and Brooks brands.
Two of the shops are based in Tullamore, Co Offaly, where workers met with management.
Meetings with workers at two other stores were held this afternoon.
The company has blamed the downturn in the construction industry and a fall in new housing starts for the lay-offs.
