Sixty workers are to lose their jobs with the ending of production by a towel manufacturing company in the north-east, reports Patsy McArdle. Lissadell Towels near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan has gone into examinership. It is the second time for the company to hit trouble since 1995, when production and marketing difficulties forced the firm to reduce its work force from 167 to 80 operatives. Managing director Mr Tom O'Neill said yesterday: "We intend to cease manufacturing and restructure the plant into servicing the hotel market with towels imported from Turkey, Lebanon, Colombia and India." He confirmed an examiner had been appointed and that about 20 workers would be retained. "The company has identified potential alternative sources in cheaper manufacturing economies and our difficulties have arisen mainly from rising labour costs, higher energy and insurance charges". The latest filed accounts for Lissadell for 2001 have revealed a pre-tax loss of EUR666,000 and the company's turnover for last year fell by a fifth. Two other textile plants have recently shut down: one in Kilkenny and the other at Killala, Co Mayo.