A KILDARE BUSINESS owner has criticised a local TD for claiming to have “delivered” jobs to his local area.
Fine Gael’s Anthony Lawlor, a TD for North Kildare, sent out leaflets in which he listed a number of things “delivered” to Kilcock in recent times.
Among the list of funding announcements is “150 jobs created Rye River Brewing Company”.
That line angered Niall Phelan from Rye River Brewing Company – not least because the jobs are actually going to nearby Celbridge.
We received no help from Anthony Lawlor. I’ve spoken to him twice in my life. Once was at a local business breakfast where I probably said four or five lines to him. The other I had a ten- or 15-second conversation about some land beside us.
The company, which make a range of fifteen beers including six of their own brand McGargle beers and is a distribution centre for imported brands such as Bavaria and San Miguel, made the announcement of the jobs back in October.
At the time, the company said that the investment amounted to €4 million and would create 150 permanent jobs and 100 construction roles.
Phelan told TheJournal.ie that for someone else to take the credit for the work of himself and his co-founders Thomas Cronin and Alan Wolfe was disrespectful.
“We went out on our own to do this.
While the business is doing well, it’s stressful.
For anyone to suggest that they’ve delivered the jobs, that shows how little respect for the business community or his local community he has.
“I’m sure all of our staff and their families will be out voting next week and will make their feelings known.”
Deputy Lawlor told TheJournal.ie mixing up the location of the jobs was “a genuine mistake”, noting that the company had been based in Kilkock previously.
“I’m not denying that their hard work delivered the jobs, it’s nothing to do with me being personally involved.
“But they were a high-potential start-up in 2014 backed by Enterprise Ireland and I felt it was a good news story for the area.”
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