C&C workers this evening walked out of a meeting where they were formally told they are to lose their jobs.

It emerged this morning that the drinks company plans to consolidate production in Ireland and the UK, with the loss of 144 jobs across its Irish operations.

126 positions will go at its plant in Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary while, an additional 18 jobs will be lost at the firm's depots in Portlaoise and New Ross.

However, C&C says its base in Clonmel will become the core manufacturing plant for both Bulmers cider and Tipperary Water, where 80 jobs will be created.

The union SIPTU says it will start a process of consultation with management at C&C.

The workers meeting in Tipperary today, reported that there was no information made available to them about redundancies or redeployment within the company.

This C&C worker told Tipp FM why he decided to walk out of today's meeting: