Emerald Star are well known in Ireland for providing rental
cruisers for people wanting to holiday along the Shannon. From their base in
Carrick-on-Shannon, they have gone on to conquer the cruise liner market not
just in Ireland, but also in the UK and across Europe.
In 1987, new customer service facilities were launched at
Emerald Star’s base in Carrick. Some of the VIPs hosted at the launch by Mr
Bodell, Chairman of Emerald Star, included: John Wilson, TD; Brian Slowey, MD
of Guinness; and Michael McDonnell from the Department of Tourism.
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| The launch of the new Emerald Star customer facilities in Carrick-on-Shannon 8 June 1987 |
Carrick-on-Shannon had always been an important port for
Guinness, as it connected the canal network with the Shannon, and the west of
Ireland. Bodell was also a trustee of the Iveagh Trust, and operated as its
chairman from 1999-2003, so there were strong connections between the two
companies for a long time.
Another important player on the Leitrim industrial scene was
General Plastics. The establishment of the factory was part of the IDA push to
encourage firms from overseas to set up branches in Ireland, taking advantage
of our proximity to the European market and readily available labour force. The
Carrick-on-Shannon factory manufactured electrical products that were encased
in moulded plastic, such as the hairdryers shown in this photograph.
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| Mary Cassidy and Elizabeth Moran making hairdryers at the General Plastics factory 10 April 1964 |
But the river was always the life source for Carrick. The
town was built at a strategic crossing point of the Shannon, which meant it
became an important trading point. The river provided employment, food and
leisure, as the longevity and prowess of the Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Club,
founded in 1854.
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| The quay at Carrick-on-Shannon 10 April 1964 |
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