
Jobs boost for Mayo as Hollister Ballina makes €80m investment
Founded in 1921 in Illinois, Hollister has become one of the biggest employers in north Mayo since establishing its plant in Ballina in 1976.
Speaking at the announcement in Ballina, local TD and Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary said: 'This is a terrific day for Ballina with the announcement of 50 additional jobs for the town. After 50 years, Hollister is more than just a manufacturing plant in Ballina, it is a mainstay of our community. Today, second and third generations of families are employed there, boosting the local economy and contributing to the everyday life of the town.'
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon TD, described the investment as a 'powerful endorsement of Ballina's skilled workforce and Ireland's reputation as a hub for innovation in healthcare manufacturing'.
The company manufactures products for ostomy care and continence care in their Ballina facility.
It exports to 70 countries and has plants in India, Denmark, Lithuania and two in America.
'To see a long-standing employer, like Hollister, continue to grow and evolve through cutting-edge research and digital transformation is very encouraging,' said Mr Dillon.
IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan congratulated Hollister and assured them of IDA Ireland's continued support.
'Supporting Hollister and companies across IDA Ireland's client portfolio with R&D investment and digital transformation endeavours sits right at the heart of Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29,' he added.
Shane Caher, Senior Director of Plant Operations and General Manager said the investment 'a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team'.
'We look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to deliver on Our Mission to make life more rewarding and dignified for those who use our products and services,' he said.
Hollister, along with Westport-based AbbVie and Castlebar and Swinford-based Vantive, employ over 3,000 people in Mayo.
Uncertainty was cast over their future operations in Ireland US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on various EU goods earlier this year.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Woman who bought €3,000 emerald and ring from Dublin jeweller discovers it's a fake
Independent goldsmith inspected ring bought from Shuwan Li's Empress Fine Jewels off Dublin's Grafton Street A customer of a Dublin-based jeweller who has filed for bankruptcy is 'disappointed but not surprised' to learn that a €3,000 emerald and diamond ring she purchased contains fake gemstones. Shuwan Li, who ran Empress Fine Jewels on Johnson's Court off Grafton Street, was being pursued for debts of €1.5m when she went bankrupt in March. The Sunday World recently revealed that another customer took legal action against Empress Fine Jewels, which was ordered to pay her nearly €35,000, after diamond rings she entrusted to the store were reported stolen while being taken by a pensioner on a bus to another location to be cleaned. In the aftermath of publicity surrounding this case, another woman decided to have her triple diamond emerald cluster ring — which she bought from the jewellery shop in December 2023 — tested. An independent valuer examined the ring using specialist technology and has in recent days confirmed the woman's suspicions that the stones are fake. This customer, who does not wish to be identified, said she visited a number of jewellers in search of an emerald ring before attending Empress Fine Jewels in mid-December 2023. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is 'The initial price I was quoted was €4,200 but I got the price down to €3,000. That was the red flag I didn't see. As they saying goes, 'if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is,'' she said. The woman said she did not expect to be sold fake emeralds from the jewellery shop on Johnson's Court, near more established jewellers in the Grafton Street area. She said she was provided with a valuation report from Empress Fine Jewels upon purchase, which stated that the '18ct gold triple diamond emerald cluster ring' had a 'market value' of €4,200. This document, as well as the woman's €3,000 invoice, have been seen by this newspaper. However, in recent weeks, the woman decided to have her emerald and diamond ring tested by a Dublin valuer to establish the authenticity of the gemstones. The independent goldsmith has now confirmed that the gemstones are not emeralds and the diamonds are also fake. Shuwan Li Sources familiar with the case say it is likely that the ring is in fact only worth a couple of hundred euro. The customer has not made a complaint to An Garda Síochána. She feels it 'might not be worthwhile' as it would be highly unlikely she would get her money back given that Ms Li has filed for bankruptcy. When she bought the piece of jewellery, the ring needed to be resized, so it took a few weeks for her to receive it. 'When I did get it, I always felt it wasn't the same ring I had chosen in the shop. It was too shiny. I always had concerns about it and now it is confirmed that it is fake. It was a wicked thing to happen but at the same time, there are far worse things going on in the world,' she said. 'You live and learn. I was duped. I had decided to treat myself and I wanted an emerald ring. Of course, I wish it didn't happen. I will probably still wear it on the odd occasion. I've accepted that it is fake and decided to just move on, because there's nothing that can be done now. 'I just hope it hasn't happened to too many other people and I would like people to be aware,' she added. An independent valuer confirmed the ring's emeralds and diamonds were not real Efforts were made to contact Ms Li for comment. Court filings show Ms Li had just €100 in cash and €21.88 in her bank account when she sought to have her €1.5m debts wiped out. Her only personal assets were a €3,000 engagement ring and a €900 wedding ring. The Sunday World reported in recent weeks that another Dublin woman obtained a judgment of almost €35,000 against Empress Fine Jewels and Ms Li earlier this year after four rings she left in for cleaning were reportedly stolen. She took a civil case against the business and a Circuit Court judgment seen by this newspaper ordered that Shuwan Li, trading as Empress Fine Jewels and Empress Fine Jewels Ltd, reimburse her €34,180. However, court documents also reveal that Ms Li filed for bankruptcy on March 3 this year, so the woman who sued her is unlikely to be compensated. Shuwan Li Mooney ran a jewellery shop in Dublin city centre On May 8, 2024, the woman left four rings worth around €35,000 into the store to be cleaned. They included her wedding and engagement rings, and two other pieces with rare stones. She received a call the next day from the jeweller, telling her the rings had been stolen from a person travelling on a Dublin Bus. She was told a pensioner had been entrusted to take the jewellery to another premises to be cleaned by a specialist and used a bus to get there. Gardaí were told the alleged robbery took place on the pensioner's return journey. This is not the first time Empress Fine Jewels has been before the courts The customer said she had no idea that her rings were to leave the premises for cleaning. She said she was 'flabbergasted' that the items would be taken elsewhere, and also that they would be transported on a bus by a pensioner, who appeared frail, given his use of a walking aid. Gardaí have obtained CCTV of the man on the bus and later took a preliminary statement from him. The customer has also given gardaí a formal statement. The investigation remains open, but there have been no arrests and no significant developments in terms of recovering the missing rings. This is not the first time Empress Fine Jewels has been before the courts. Last year, an agreement was reached to resolve a High Court row between the business and an Italian jewellery distributor over €500,000 worth of jewels. World Diamond Group (WDG) sued Shuwan Li and Empress Fine Jewels. Among the claims were that Shuwan Li made an alleged threat to 'put people in the river' in the midst of the fallout between the diamond sellers.


RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Manufacturer Hollister Incorporated to create 50 jobs in Mayo
US healthcare company Hollister Incorporated is to create around 50 new jobs in Co Mayo. The new roles will be generated as part of an €80 million research and development investment and a digital transformation project at its existing plant in Ballina. The company first opened its manufacturing facility in the town in 1976. The MedTech manufacturer employs almost 1,000 at the Co Mayo site, which specialises in the production of ostomy care and continence care products. Hollister says the multimillion-euro investment "aims to elevate Ballina into a global epicentre of expertise through novel device design and extensive site-wide training". The project is supported by IDA Ireland. The company is currently recruiting in the areas of engineering, data science and business services. Hollister Senior Director of Plant Operations and General Manager, Shane Caher, said the company was "thrilled to announce this significant milestone for Hollister Incorporated". "Our commitment to innovation and excellence continues to drive us forward, and this investment in our research program and digital transformation project is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team," he added. Mr Caher said Hollister's mission is "to make life more rewarding and dignified for those who use our products and services." The Chief Executive of IDA Ireland, Michael Lohan, said Hollister has been creating jobs and investment in Co Mayo for decades. "In the intervening near 50 years, Hollister has again and again committed to and delivered on its ambitions for its Irish operations," he added. The Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, said Hollister is "more than just a manufacturing plant in Ballina; it is one of the mainstays of our community". "Today, second and third generations of families are employed there boosting the local economy and contributing to the everyday life of the town," he added. "I want to pay credit to Shane Caher and all of the staff in Hollister who have dedicated themselves to Ballina and to the West of Ireland but also to all of the past Hollister management and staff who's work, and commitment is the foundation of the plant's success today." The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon, said the €80 million investment by Hollister Incorporated is "a powerful endorsement of Ballina's skilled workforce and Ireland's reputation as a hub for innovation in healthcare manufacturing". "To see a long-standing employer, like Hollister, continue to grow and evolve through cutting-edge research and digital transformation is very encouraging," he added.


Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Jobs boost for Mayo as Hollister Ballina makes €80m investment
The company, which employs approximately 1,000 people in Ballina, has committed to a research and development investment and a digital transformation project that will 'to elevate Ballina into a global epicentre of expertise'. This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. Founded in 1921 in Illinois, Hollister has become one of the biggest employers in north Mayo since establishing its plant in Ballina in 1976. Speaking at the announcement in Ballina, local TD and Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary said: 'This is a terrific day for Ballina with the announcement of 50 additional jobs for the town. After 50 years, Hollister is more than just a manufacturing plant in Ballina, it is a mainstay of our community. Today, second and third generations of families are employed there, boosting the local economy and contributing to the everyday life of the town.' Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon TD, described the investment as a 'powerful endorsement of Ballina's skilled workforce and Ireland's reputation as a hub for innovation in healthcare manufacturing'. The company manufactures products for ostomy care and continence care in their Ballina facility. It exports to 70 countries and has plants in India, Denmark, Lithuania and two in America. 'To see a long-standing employer, like Hollister, continue to grow and evolve through cutting-edge research and digital transformation is very encouraging,' said Mr Dillon. IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan congratulated Hollister and assured them of IDA Ireland's continued support. 'Supporting Hollister and companies across IDA Ireland's client portfolio with R&D investment and digital transformation endeavours sits right at the heart of Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29,' he added. Shane Caher, Senior Director of Plant Operations and General Manager said the investment 'a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team'. 'We look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to deliver on Our Mission to make life more rewarding and dignified for those who use our products and services,' he said. Hollister, along with Westport-based AbbVie and Castlebar and Swinford-based Vantive, employ over 3,000 people in Mayo. Uncertainty was cast over their future operations in Ireland US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on various EU goods earlier this year.