PADRAIG KELLY ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS

50 years ago this week, an Ardee man completed quite a journey.

At the age of 20, Padraig Kelly began work in the spinning department of the Castleguartl Textile Co. Ltd., and 16 years later, in 1967, was been appointed Manager. 36-year-old Padraig, of 2 Cappooksgreen, said in an interview with our roporter : “My ambition has now been realised.”

In 1951, Padraig, married with four children, Geraldine , Robert, Annette and Margaret, was given an “ordinary” job in the then 150-employee factory. But he decided that he was going to work hard, and it seems that his bosses at once realised his potential in the running of the establishment when seven years later he was transferred to the Sligo Spinning Company to gain wider knowledge and experience.

In 1964 he was again back at the Ardee plant and three months later went to England on a Government scholarship for cotton-spinning where he also learned about quality control. “I found it very beneficial,” he said.

Soon afterwards he was put in charge of production and quality control, and in 1965 when Seafield- Gentex, an Irish firm, took over the factory, Padraig was promoted to the rank of Assistant Manager . He then became Manager, in succession to Mr. George Duffy, retired.

The factory employed 150 men and women when Mr. Kelly joined it in 1951, but in 1967 it had trebled this figure with 270 men and 180 girls.

It exported 50,000 pounds worth of cotton per week, and the output per year ran in the region of 6.1 million pounds weight of cotton and rayon. As well as having an extensive export market, it also supplied the home market. The factory had the most up-todate machinery and production methods.

Padraig’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Kelly, both taught for forty yearn in Stormanstown National School.