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| The Cans Metal Box factory, Portadown, was established in 1945, and officially opened in 1946. Its original workforce of forty rose steadily over the years and peaked at around three hundred and fifty in the 1970's. By this stage, Cans Metal Box was among the largest single employers in the Portadown area. It worked to produce all types of cans and metal boxes for the food and drinks market throughout Ireland, north and south. At its height, the factory turned out eight million cans per week. Sadly - due mainly to competition from plastic production and vacuum pack - the factory closed its doors in 1987. The story could have ended there. But it didn't. Because the Cans Metal Box Pensioners' Club members were determined to preserve the memories of their working past. The result is The Tin God - a moving tribute to a factory that long provided effective employment to all sections of the community in Portadown. |
| Some of those who made this cross-community industrial heritage project & publication possible: Gerry Burns (SELB), Fergal O'Brien (ArtsCare), Adrian Rice (Project Co-ordinator), Phil O'Hanlon (Graphic Artist), and the Cans Metal Box Pensioners' Club. |
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| Adrian Rice, Gerry Burns and Phil O'Hanlon The Tin God book launch, Portadown 18/10/02 |
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| An Excerpt from The Tin God LAST MAN OUT: MEMORIES OF METAL BOX by George Kerr In 1945, as a boy, when I walked past the Metal Box, little did I know that I would one day be employed in the factory. But by 1958, I commenced there and continued until 1987, when the factory closed. My thoughts as one of the last employees when it closed were those of great sadness when I walked through the empty building and experienced the loneliness, the lack of machinery, noise and the absence of voices. My thoughts went back to the many happy years I had spent there, and the memories of friends and colleagues with whom I had at times shared problems and sought advice. On reflection, I realize now when meeting ex-workers that those were very happy years we spent together, and I'm conscious of the fact that the conditions and wages were excellent and really contributed to the good life style we all enjoyed. |
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| Adrian with the Cans Metal Box Pensioners' Club |
| Launching The Tin God |
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| Since November 15, 2002 |
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| The Tin God was compiled and written by Adrian Rice |
| To Receive a copy of The Tin God please email [email protected] |
| Copyright � 2002-2003 Freelance Poetry & Drama All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. |
| The Tin God A History of the Cans Metal Box Factory, Portadown, Northern Ireland |
| Click here to read newspaper clipping - coming soon ... |