Consider tobacco and Ireland, and most people think inevitably of the Carroll's cigarette factory in Dundalk. But there are others - notably the Hofnar plant in Ballaghadereen and the Douwe Egbert factory in Mullingar.

Now, it seems that Mullingar is going to be the beneficiary of a major shake-up at Douwe Egberts following its takeover by Imperial Group late last year.

Remember Golden Virginia, the roll-your-own tobacco beloved of many an impoverished student who couldn't afford the packet of Major. Well, the manufacture of Golden Virginia, which has been a long-time member of Imperial's "baccy" portfolio, is being moved from Liverpool and Nottingham to the Douwe Egbert plant Mullingar, a move that is seen as safeguarding the plant's long-term future.

So if you get a whiff of Golden Virginia while on the Mullingar bypass, you'll know why.