This article is from page 18 of the 2012-06-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
THE move to locate a high technology pharmacuetical plant in Clarecastle was announced in November 1973 – the first big jobs announcement for the county after Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community.
Syntex was an international company founded in Mexico in 1944, before developing subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, Spain, England and America and prior to establishing in Clarecastle had a worldwide workforce of 5,000.
The announcement of the development of Syntex’s first production facility in Europe on a 77-acre site in Clarecastle, with the promise of 200 jobs that would grow to 500 represented a huge injection into the local economy.
The founding managing director, Dr John T Day said “the reason Syntex selected Ireland was because of a very attractive incentive package available to manufacturing companies.
“We have been very impressed by the co-operation we have received from the IDA and SFADCO, the Clare County Development team and Clare county officials.
“I would like to thank the local people for the very efficient and progressive way in which they have approached the establishment of a high technology industry in County Clare,” he added in announcing this huge jobs boost to the county.
“We are satisfied that Syntex are seriously concerned about the environment and that they have a keen sense of responsibility to the community,” said then Clare County Manager, Joe Boland.
“They have supported many educational and social programmes, not only in America, but also in other countries in which they have factories. Clare and Ireland are fortunate in getting a company of the stature and quality of Syntex to establish here,” he added.
Site preparation started in May, 1974 and ‘sod turning’ for the manufacturing plant took place in June 1974, which was performed by Minister for the Gaeltacht, Tom O’Donnell (FG), with the same shovel used by Charles Stewart Parnell to turn the sod for the start of the West Clare Railway in 1886.
The plant was built by Michael Lynch and Company, with the total project costing £11.8m, nearly £6m more than had been forecast, with production of Naproxen – a drug used in the treatment of arthritis – commencing in February 1977 and official opening of the plant by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Gene Fitzgerald (FF) on July 11, 1977.