Apple jobs will be fruitful for athenry and north galway

THE announcement of 300 jobs over a number of years for Athenry with IT giant Apple set to locate its biggest European data storage centre in Derrydonnell Wood was described by Cllr Peter Feeney as “the start of a fruitful relationship between Apple and Athenry”. A local IDA chief has described it as a vote of confidence in Co Galway.
As a Fine Gael councillor for the area Cllr Feeney was kept aware of behind the scenes negotiations to get the €850 million facility for Athenry, but he, like all the other councillors, remained tight lipped about it until the official announcement was made early on Monday morning.
However, for once, every councillor at the monthly Council meeting, held in Ballinasloe, was in agreement that this was good news not alone for Athenry but for surrounding areas of North and East Galway, from Tuam to Loughrea.
Speaking to The Tuam Herald after the meeting Cllr Feeney played down how much knowledge he had of the behind-the-scenes negotiations between his Fine Gael Government colleagues and the American IT giant.