Connect Ireland, the group seeking to win jobs for Ireland through connecting with Diaspora groups, announced its first major employment achieved with 70 new jobs being created in Meath.

Sources say that there are many other jobs in the Connect Ireland pipeline including some major initiatives which will be announced over the summer. Details of the initiative and how it works are at ConnectIreland.com. Terry Clune, founder of Taxback.com, is also founder of Connect Ireland.

Jobs are sourced through Irish based or Diaspora members telling Connect Ireland about interest from business owners in expanding in Ireland.The person who identified the company that sets up in Ireland gets a fee of at least $2,000 per job

In this case it was a local businessman Hugh Morris, “I have worked very closely with Connect Ireland in a bid to get a project off the ground. I have a huge interest in promoting North Meath and I really believe our region has a lot to offer any business,” he stated.

Minister Richard Bruton said: “The innovative Succeed in Ireland initiative s is about marshalling all the resources of our community and our diaspora to tackle the jobs crisis and attract new multinational companies who would not otherwise come to Ireland.
 
“Today’s announcement that Mafic is establishing a facility in Kells with the creation of 70 new manufacturing jobs is great news for Meath and an example of precisely what we are aiming to achieve with this initiative."

Mafic will produce basalt fibre from a single material, crushed basalt, which is being sourced from the Ukraine. The manufacture of basalt fibre requires the melting of the crushed basalt rock. This will be done in specially commissioned and imported furnaces to be installed in Kells in the coming months.
 
The Kells operation will start with three furnaces, extending to six furnaces within 18 months. These furnaces will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition there are already plans in the pipeline to have a pultrusion line to produce composites using the basalt fibres.
 
The facility will become Mafic’s manufacturing centre of excellence and production headquarters.  Brian Dougan, Director and Secretary of Mafic S.A and Managing Director of Mafic Ireland will be based in Kells.
 
Brian said, ‘It is a very exciting time for our company, as we establish our production facility in Kells.  We believe that we have found a perfect location for our business, with a strong supportive local community. That coupled with the availability of workers and Ireland’s proximity to the European and North American markets was a huge draw for us. We are confident that Ireland, and specifically the historical town of Kells, offers us all the necessary components to help make our business a success.'
 
Mafic will commence recruitment of Production Supervisors and Manufacturing Technicians immediately. The recruitment process for Production Operatives will take place throughout June and July with successful candidates for these roles commencing employment in August. A recruitment fair/evening will take place in Kells in June with advanced notice published in the local media.
 
Mafic stated that it would like to acknowledge the significant role played by ConnectIreland in helping it to decide to choose Ireland as a location or their production facility. Mafic would also like to extend their thanks to Meath County Council.