Christmas cheer was in short supply in the east Cork town of Youghal yesterday after one of the area's leading employers, Artesyn Technologies, announced the closure of its electronics plant with the loss of 200 jobs. In Donegal, there is uncertainty over another 160 jobs at Comer Yarns in Gweedore.

Staff at the Artesyn manufacturing facility were informed they will be let go on a phased basis over the coming nine months. The company, formerly known as Power Products, has been in operation in Youghal for over 20 years. It is one of the leading suppliers of power conversion products and communication sub-systems to the communications industry.

Managing director of the Cork plant, Mr Philip Whelan, attributed the closure to the global downturn in the telecommunications sector. The manufacturing work carried out at the plant will be transferred to a facility in China. He said workers and management at the Youghal facility did everything in their power to keep the plant open. He admitted the timing of the closure was regrettable, particularly in light of the loyal service provided by employees at the plant over the past 20 years.

Mr Whelan said the company hoped to begin negotiations with union representatives in the coming weeks to close the plant in an orderly fashion by next September. The company will retain its sale and design offices in Cork which employ 82 people.

The Youghal facility is the headquarters of all Artesyn Technologies European operations. The primary sales and marketing offices in Europe and one of the larger manufacturing facilities are located at the site. The location also has a custom engineering group which provides individual power solutions to customers.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, described the job losses as a "shocking blow" to the workers at Artesyn Technologies.

"I know that over the last number of months the management at the facility has fought very hard to keep the manufacturing operations going. However, it appears that Youghal, like a number of other Artesyn facilities around the world, is another victim of the continuing decline in the global telecom market."

A further 160 jobs are under threat at the troubled Gweedore Industrial Estate in west Donegal. Workers at Comer Yarns Limited, which employs over 160 people, have rejected a company request to introduce pay-cuts. The yarn manufacturing firm, which was set up almost 30 years ago, has been forced to put a large number of workers on short-time already this year.

Meanwhile, Ruibear Motoir Teoranta shut its doors on the estate yesterday with the loss of 74 jobs. At its peak, it employed over 200 people.