Carraig Donn expands and looks abroad

Carraig Donn expands and looks abroad


Áine Ryan

Carraig Donn Manufacturing, the country’s largest home-based knitwear manufacturer, is set to expand its business abroad and create 22 new jobs over the coming years.
The Westport-based business was established by well-known entrepreneurial family, the Hugheses, in 1981 and is now owned by Pat and Vincent Hughes.
Marking the announcement on Monday last, January 11, Minister Dara Calleary was among a large group who visited the factory on the Lodge Road.
Speaking at the reception, Mr Pat Hughes, Managing Director, acknowledged Enterprise Ireland’s financial support under its Growth Fund Programme 
“This investment by Enterprise Ireland is a very significant development for the company, which will drive the next phase of export-led growth and will create 22 new jobs. A key element of the success of the company is the dedicated, multi-skilled, and highly flexible workforce which is fundamental to product repositioning and development strategies,” Pat Hughes said.
Enterprise Ireland’s Growth Fund promotes the expansion of international trading companies through investment in staff, equipment and technology, in a drive to increase competitiveness and encourage new exports.
Speaking last week, Minister Dara Calleary said: “It’s a pleasure to announce any jobs in this climate especially for a homegrown company. Carraig Donn is expanding and has reshaped itself. If you look at its retail shops, you can see it hasn’t looked back. Carraig Donn has always shown an absolute commitment to the quality of its product,” said Dara Calleary.
“It has always struck me that Westport outstrips itself in respect of the rest of the county in vision; it doesn’t look over its shoulder. Carraig Donn started from very small beginnings with Pat and Vincent’s parents,” he continued.
Minister Calleary also stressed the important role Enterprise Ireland played in the country, observing it was ‘one of the unsung heroes of this economy’.
Congratulating Carraig Donn, Mike Kelly, a Development Advisor with Enterprise Ireland said he was ‘confident the company can achieve substantial growth in  the years to come’.
“Enterprise Ireland has been working closely with Carraig Donn over the past six months and we are delighted to support the company’s new expansion strategy which will result in significant increases in sales, exports and new jobs for Westport,” Mr Kelly also said.
Moreover, Ms Colette Caulfield, Finance Director, revealed that ‘US shopping channel QVC, one of the world’s largest multimedia retailers, sold $1.4 million of Carraig Donn products in a 24-hour sustained TV sales drive in September of last year’. Ms Caulfield also welcomed the support of Enterprise Ireland in the new innovative drive, which includes the opening of a Carraig Donn showroom in London.
In conclusion, Pat Hughes thanked both the minister and Enterprise Ireland and acknowledged their ongoing ‘support and commitment to the new strategic direction of the company’. He also expressed the company’s appreciation of the support and interest from other public representatives including Deputies Enda Kenny and Michael Ring.
Carraig Donn’s new Autumn 2010 range will be officially launched at Showcase Dublin, set to open at the RDS on January 24 next.