TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY this morning announced 145 new jobs at a firm producing wind turbines.

The positions will be created over the next three years at C&F Green Energy in Athenry, Co Galway as it produces a new range of small wind-powered generators. The devices are designed to power farms, factories and even individual houses and are much smaller than those used on wind farms.

Speaking at the firm’s headquarters, Mr Kenny said: “This is great news for Athenry, for Galway and for Ireland as a whole. Not alone are we seeing 145 new manufacturing jobs come on stream today but this project has the potential to generate significant spin off to the Irish economy.”

He added that the development of the turbines would “help place Ireland in the forefront of the developing renewable energy sector worldwide.” C&F Green Energy is a spin-off from C&F Manufacturing, which also works in tooling, vehicles, refrigeration and IT hardware. The jobs were supported by a “significant” investment from Enterprise Ireland.

John Flaherty, managing director of C&F Green Energy, said today: “We at C&F are very excited about the contribution we can make to this dynamic, modern industry with our strong track record in manufacturing excellence.”

There was more good news for Galway today as a start-up company announced it would be creating a further 20 jobs. Irish Organic Weedkiller, based in Claregalway, will open a new facility in the town today. The factory will be officially opened by Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher.