Over 200 workers have lost their jobs at a sports and leisure wear manufacturer in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Staff at Lowe Alpine were told by management at lunchtime that the company will close its Irish manufacturing operation in March because of competitive pressures in Europe.
In a letter to workers, Lowe Alpine management said the company could no longer afford to operate a manufacturing plant in Europe and will be moving its office base back to the company's headquarters in Cumbria.
Lowe Alpine employ 220 workers, predominantly women, in the manufacture of fleece jackets for the sport and leisure market.
The company moved one of its manufacturing lines to Portugal two years ago and laid off some workers at that time. SIPTU has confirmed that negotiations on terms and conditions of redundancies will begin on Monday.
