75 jobs announced in three regional locations under the Succeed in Ireland Initiative by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Richard Bruton

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD today [Friday] announced that three multinational companies are establishing new operations near Portarlington, in Kinvara, Co. Galway and Longford town with the creation of a total of 75 new jobs.

The companies were introduced to Ireland through ConnectIreland, the company responsible for delivering the Government’s Succeed in Ireland initiative, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs.

The Magni Group, which operates an automotive coating business, will set up its new manufacturing plant and R+D laboratory near Portarlington. The company, which is headquartered in Michigan, USA, already operates a paint business in Mallow, Co. Cork. The new facility, which will employ 50 people, will include a purpose-built 40,000 square foot factory with room to expand to 80,000 square feet over five years.

The Magni Group is considered a global leader in the production of corrosion resistant, automotive coating and in order to support the global marketplace the company operates out of 23 locations in eight countries across the globe – all of which will be supported by the new Irish facility.

Before being put in touch with Connect Ireland through the Connector and the GAA (see below), the Magni Group was close to deciding to locate the facility in the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, Flagship Management has confirmed it is to locate the EMEA headquarters of its maritime consultancy and recruitment business at Kinvara, Co. Galway. Some 15 jobs are expected to be created over the next three years in the business, which has its US headquarters in Florida. Flagship Management currently serves the North American and European market from the US.

The European operation will provide consultancy and recruitment services to maritime companies operating in the North Sea and Gulf regions. The operation will also focus on the growing German and continental European markets.

And a further 10 jobs are to be created in Co. Longford by Ark Energy Consulting Limited as it expands its Italian operation to Ireland. Parent company, ARK Srl is a privately-owned company based in Genoa, Italy which specialises in providing consulting services to the ETRM (Energy Trading Risk Management) sector.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “It is great to be here today to announce 50 jobs at the Magni Group near Portarlington, along with 15 jobs at Flagship Management in Kinvara and 10 jobs at Ark Energy in Longford town. This is a very welcome boost for these local communities. Every job that is created through ConnectIreland, under the Succeed in Ireland Initiative, is a job that may not have come to Ireland without the intervention of a ‘connector’. Whether it is individual connections like this or wider Government strategy, our message is: Ireland is open for business and a great location for inward investment.”

Minister Bruton said: “This is a fantastic announcement for three communities in regional areas, and provides a great example of precisely what the Government’s Succeed in Ireland has been established to do. As a result of informal social connections and with the support of the GAA, three companies that would otherwise have gone elsewhere are locating operations in regional areas and creating 75 jobs. These are companies which would not otherwise have come on to the radar of the IDA, now choosing to locate operations in regional locations which do not traditionally benefit from multinational investment and jobs. This is great news for Portarlington, Kinvara and Longford, I commend all involved and wish them every success for their future in Ireland”.

Each of the companies was referred to ConnectIreland by a registered ‘Connector’ who put the company in touch with the expert FDI team at ConnectIreland, when they learned that they were in expansion mode.

In the case of The Magni Group, for example, Laois man Kieran Leavy stands to receive a reward of up to €75,000 after putting the company directors, who he knew socially, in touch with ConnectIreland. Mr Leavy’s heavy involvement in the GAA played a role, as he first heard of ConnectIreland at the GAA Annual Congress where the company had a stand. The Magni Group will now create 50 manufacturing jobs in Mr Leavy’s local area in Co. Laois.

These are three of a number of successful projects secured by ConnectIreland, the most recent being the announcement of 70 jobs for Kells in Co. Meath, through the help of a local ‘Connector’.