APH
Sources: FAS Teamwork Scheme 1989-1992
Leader; Mrs. Marie Fahy
Scheme Sponsors: Athenry Project Society
In March, 1934, the formation, of the bag factory in Athenry for the manufacture of bags was almost complete and only awaited the sanction of the Department Ministry of Industry and Commerce to the loan of £5,500, which the company would pay back in a number of years. The total subscribed locally in Athenry and the interested partnership company in Cork was £4,500. A suitable site had been secured in convenient proximity to Athenry.
Loans and Tenders
In July, 1954, the promoters of the Western Sack and Bag Co. Ltd. announced that Athenry would be the principal factory and registration office of the company and would be head office in the Free State. The Cork concern from the beginning was that Athenry was only considered a subsidiary factory. A loan of £5,000 was sanctioned by the government for the erection of the factory at Athenry and work was to be started there within a few weeks. Tenders were advertised in October, 1934 and the work started on the erection of the Athenry Bag Factory. Mr. S. Broderick, T.D., had the contract.
Training of Employees
In February, 1935, there were about 20 young girls attending classes in Athenry to learn the trade of making sugar bags for the sugar factories. The factory building was not finished but the girls were to be at work by the end of March. Three girls from Scotland came to train the girls. Work commenced in Ruane’s store while the factory was being erected.
Opening
The Athenry Bag Factory, situated in Caheroyan (now McNamaras Garage), was opened in 1935 by Mr. Seán Lemass, the then Minister for Industry and Commerce. The original company was the Liverpool based, Healy & Weir and was owned by the Western Sack and Bag Factory Co. Ltd.
The reason why the Bag Factory was set up in Athenry was to provide bags for beet pulp. The bags were sold to the Tuam sugar factory and to local merchants McGiverns, Monivea, Corbetts, Athenry and Flynn’s of Lackagh.
Pay and Piece Work
There were fourteen sewing machines and one cutting machine. In the beginning the wages were very poor-£1 a week. Usually the employees were paid according to piece work
As there were no Industrial Estates in Athenry the setting up of a factory was a source of employment to the area.
Some of the staff members were as follows:
George Hynes (R.I.P) Dublin – General Manager :
Molly Hanley – Forewoman
Paddy Kilkelly – Foreman
There were three clerks employed:
1st – Ita O’Callaghan – Cork.
2nd -Joan Fitzsimons-now Sister Peter.
3rd – Detta Fahy(R,I.P).
Some of the machinists were:
Lena Spellman (R.I.P.)
Detta Burke
Delia Healy (R.I.P.), Oranmore
Annie Gill – Mountain North
Ann Niland – Athenry
Cissie Mullins – Moorpark
Winnie Holian – Athenry
Floor workers included:
Nora Higgins (R.I.P.) – Boyhill
Margaret Sherlock-Gloves
Sara Bohan – Kilskeagh
Mary Varley – (R.I. P.)
Kathleen Coffey – Monivea
Bridgie Hession – Athenry
Mary Loughnane (R.I. P.)
The Committee were: Charley Taylor, Seán Broderick, James Ruane; Chris Daly; Bernie Murtagh.
The factory closed in 1956 due to the introduction of paper bags. In 1968 it was used as a church while the present catholic church was being built.
Newspaper Articles about the Bag Factory
Connacht Tribune,
Feb. 24th, 1934. In Athenry.
New Bag Factory.
Arrangements are well in hand for the establishment in Athenry at an early date of a bag factory, which will trade under the name of the Western Sack and Bag Co., Ltd. Agreements have been reached between the Athenry Industrial Promotion Committee and the firm of Weir and Co., Sack Manufacturers, Liverpool, and in view of the volume of trade there will be in the West for such a factory, and the suitability of Athenry as a centre, the company have expressed their willingness to open a branch of the factory.
It is agreed to form a private limited company having a nominal capital of £7,500, of which £4,500 would be subscribed, 51% to be put up in the country and 49% by Messrs. Andrew Weir and Co. In addition, it is proposed to apply for a government loan of £5,500, the latter to be secured by a debenture having a floating charge on the assets of the company. The loan is to be repayable annually for twelve years. It is proposed to have six directors as follows: Messrs. W.J. Beezley, Cork; James J. Ruane, Athenry; Charles Taylor, Athenry and Bernard Murtagh, Athenry, (provisional nominations); Robert M. Weir and Thomas Grail, both of Liverpool, non-national directors.
There is, it is pointed out, a huge field in the Free State for such an industry. In 1932 £180,000 worth of new and second-hand bags were imported, and the three new beet factories would create a market for £46,000 more. After the hunt protest meeting on Tuesday, Lord Altamont subscribed £100 towards the factory; Mr. Domnick Browne, joint master of the Galway Blazers, subscribed £50, Mr. James Smyth. Masonbrook, £10; Major Carr (who said he knew Messrs. Weir) took a lively interest in the project.
February 2nd 1935
In Athenry
There are about 20 young girls attending classes in Athenry to learn the trade of making sugar bags for the sugar factories. The factory building is not yet finished, but it is expected the girls will be at work there about the end of March. Skilled workers from England are giving the lessons.
February 23, 1935
In Athenry
Athenry will begin ‘to look up industrially as soon as the sack factory is completed.
Already some of the girls are in training. Incidentally, it may be mentioned here that in our recent notice of the principal traders of Athenry, whilst we mentioned the garage which is now being energetically run by Mr. William A. Higgins, junior, we quite forgot to mention the famous oldest established business is the little town – the famous grocery, wine, spirit and provision store of Mr. T. B. Higgins.
Whilst on these names, residents of Athenry will be delighted to hear that that popular and courteous young man, Mr. Paddy Higgins, is getting on extremely well at the Ford works at Dagenham where he is serving a strenuous apprenticeship. He is soon to be promoted to the offices, where he will learn all the intricacies of modern salesmanship and accountancy.
March 25th 1935
The bag factory building, Athenry, for which Mr. Sean Broderick, T.D., is contractor, is now nearing completion and already some of the machinery has been installed.
The Connacht Tribune
May 25,1935
Athenry Factory Opening
The Western Sack and Bag Factory Ltd., Athenry, will be officially opened on Tuesday next, May 28, by Mr. Seán Lemass, Minister for Industry and Commerce, at 4.30pm. At 7pm a dinner will be held in O’Neill’s Hotel, Athenry.. ^^
The factory, which is one of the most up-to-date in the Saorstat is being managed by Mr. George Hayes and there are 6 directors: Messrs. M. Weir, Managing Director; .J. Haley, J.J. Ruane, B. Murtagh, C. Taylor, F. Hawke.
At present over 50 are employed and when the factory is in full swing it is expected that up to 50 girls will be employed. For the past 5 weeks workers from Dundee, Scotland, have been in Athenry teaching the trade to the local girls.
The establishment of this factory is one of the results of the work of the Athenry Industrial Promotion Committee. As a result of correspondence in December last the committee succeeded in getting in touch with the firm of Weir and Company, Sack manufacturers, Liverpool, London and Hull. They were at the time just considering opening a factory in the Irish Free State and were in touch with friends of theirs in Cork, but when approached by the committee they were most favourably disposed to open a factory in Athenry in view of the volume of trade there would be in the West for such a factory and the suitability of Athenry as a centre.
One of the principals of the firm, Mr. R. M. Weir, visited Athenry, and the committee had a conferences with him in Dublin. The proposals embodied the erection of a new factory in Athenry for the manufacture of new sacks and the re-conditioning of second-hand sacks,
There is a huge field in the Irish Free State for such an industry when one considers that in the year 1932 we imported approximately £180,000 worth of new and second-hand bags and our three beet factories will create a new market for approximately £46,000 worth, more, not to speak of other industries such as milling etc., which are certainly wanting increased quantities also as compared with 1932
June 1 1935
MINISTER ATTENDS APENING CEREMONY AT ATHENRY
Athenry Sack and Bag Factory, situated at Caheroyn was officially opened on Tuesday evening by Mr. Gerald Bolandl, T.D., Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
The road leading to the building was decorated with bunting, and a large crowd had gathered before the Minister arrived close on 5 o’clock. He was received at the entrance to the factory by a guard of honour of local Gardai under Chief Superintendent Clenton, Ballinasloe, and Superintendent Kelly, Athenry. Near the factory the Minister was received by the officials and employees, who also formed a guard of honour.
On the platform with the Minister were Mr. R. M. Weir, Managing Director of the factory, who presided; Messrs. Stephen Jordan, T.D., Seán Broderick, T.D., Messrs. J. J. Ruane, B. Murtagh, C. Taylor, Directors of the company, Dr. G. Foley, S. M. Burke, Tobermore, Tuam; R. Collins, superintendent, Agricultural College, Athenry; Rev. Mr. North Bomford, M. Hession, Dunsandle; Dr Tom Powell.
Mr. Weir said he was proud and happy to see the fruits of their labour of the past 18 months realised in the shape of that handsome factory and expressed the hope that the undertaking, though small, would help in the promotion and growth of other industries in Ireland, On behalf of the Company he welcomed the Minister.
Mr. Larry Lardner read an address of welcome from the Athenry Industrial Development Promotion Committee, The Minister said the name “Baile na gGearda” ( Town of the Trades), which Athenry was known by in the past, was a good augury for the future, and he hoped Athenry will continue the tradition.
He had special pleasure coming to a western town, as he represented the Midland-Eastern constituency which so far had not availed of the opportunities that have been given recently for industrial development, but he hoped it will vie with Galway in that respect before it is too late. This venture in Athenry was only a small beginning, but a praiseworthy one, and the directors of the Athenry Sack and Bag Factory had taken good care to leave room for improvement as there was plenty of space left surrounding the factory for more machinery, which would give good employment to willing workers and happy workers, too.
Mr. R. M. Burke said he was glad to see members of all political parties joined together in events of this kind.
Mr. Stephen Jordan, T.D., said it was through Mr. Weir’s technical knowledge and expert advice and sound judgement that they had that factory established.
Mr. Ruane mentioned that the factory had already an order of 500,000 bags from the Tuam Beet Factory. The Minister and visitors were then shown over the factory and saw the girls -about forty – at work at the different sewing machines in the cutting, make – up and stitching of bags. The factory has the capacity of turning out a million bags a year or 100,000 a week. There are 18 Singer sewing machines and each operator can make 1,000 bags a day. It is, of course, possible to improve on this and add more machines should the demand for bags call it.
June 8,1935.
Athenry Factory
During the past week 12 darning machines for reconditioning second-hand bags were installed at the Athenry Sack Factory, by Mr. J. Quinn, Singers mechanic.
Connacht Tribune
Nov. 7, 1936
At the A.G.M. of shareholders of the Western Sack and Bag Co. held in the Railway Hotel Athenry, Mr. Weir, Managing Director (Liverpool) presiding, the Acting Secretary, Mr. Hayes (Irish Manager) read several apologies for inability to attend the meeting.
The balance sheet submitted by the secretary was considered very satisfactory.
The two retiring directors Messrs. Weir (Liverpool) & S. Jordan, T.D., (Athenry) were re-elected on the proposal of Mr. S. Broderick T.D., seconded by Mr. E. J. Fitzsimons: Mr. Fitzgerald was re-elected Auditor. Messrs. S. Broderick, T.D., S. Jordan T.D., J. Fitzgerald, auditor, Weir, Managing Director, and Major Carr were appointed on a deputation to meet the Minister for Industry and Commerce with a view to further developments.
Present: Messrs Healy (Liverpool), Jordan. Taylor, Duffy (directors), Broderick T.D., Ruane, Fitzsimons, Major Carr (Shareholders).
