There has been a huge blow to employment in Sligo this afternoon.

The Abbott Ireland plant in Ballytivnan isseeking 180 redundancies.

The news was announced to workers following a meeting earlier.

Management says it is to streamline its global nutrition business.

The plant develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of science-based nutritional products.

Abbott is one of the major employers in the Sligo area having been established there in 1974.

Workers leaving the plant this afternoon declined to comment.

Abbott management says they have no comment to make aside from a statement which has been issued to the media.

Local Fianna Fail Senator is Marc MacSharry.

He told Ocean FM it is devastating news for the locality.