Cllr Jennifer Green (left) and Sinn Féin election candidate JJ Quigley (right) with Elvery’s Dundalk staff members in the Dundalk Retail Park store yesterday
Councillor Jennifer Green and Sinn Féin hopeful JJ Quigley visited the Elvery’s Sports Shop in Dundalk yesterday to lend their support to staff who are facing uncertainty over the jobs.
Elverys Sports, Ireland’s oldest sports retailer has been in existence since 1847 but is currently in examinership. The Examiner, Mr Simon Coyle of Mazars, has stated in a communication to employees that: ‘His aim is to protect the business at all costs with a particular focus on job security.’
There are 10 jobs at risk in Dundalk with a similar number in the Drogheda shop and 700 throughout the country.
Cllr Green said she felt moved to visit the shop as she was “impressed by the campaign launched by the staff to save their jobs.”
She said: “I received an email from the store manager and was taken aback by the passion they had for the company as well as the desire to keep their jobs. The social media campaign has been very positive and is gathering momentum all the time. In just 9 days, they have gathered support from almost 11,000 online friends.”
JJ Quigley, a Sinn Féin candidate for the Dundalk-Carlingford area in the upcoming local elections said: “As a GAA player for Clan na Gael GFC, I obviously have a special interest in sports and all things connected with it. Elverys Sports was always there when I was growing up and the staff always enthusiastic about their sportswear.”
The ex-Louth player continued: “Talking to staff today, there is despondency as they are uncertain about their future. They should know what is happening by next week with the company but it is important that everything is done to ensure the staff, not only keep their jobs, but also that they have similar terms and conditions to what they have now.”
Cllr Green ended by saying: “JJ and I would like to encourage all those who are passing by the Elvery’s Sports shop in Dundalk Retail Park to show their support and pop in and sign their petition which is located just inside the door. It will only take a minute.”
If you would like to support the Facebook Campaign, you can do so at www.facebook.com/SOSElverys700
