The O'Neills logo is iconic in Irish sport. We see it on gaelic footballs and sliotars. We see it on the kits of every intercounty team and pretty much every club side. We even see it in quite random places like Wycombe and the Congo.
World sport has mostly shut down due to the coronavirus but O'Neills hasn't. Starting with immediate effect, the Irish sports apparel manufacturer will be making scrubs for doctors and nurses working to save lives and prevent the spread of this disease. They released a statement confirming the news this afternoon:
With immediate effect, O’Neills are manufacturing scrubs for the Health and Social Care Trusts.
The health and safety of our workers is paramount. We are observing government hygiene and distancing protocol.
We are delighted to support the work of frontline healthcare staff. pic.twitter.com/oZJwNR5ek9— O'Neills (@ONeills1918) March 23, 2020
The work will be carried out at the O'Neills factory in Strabane. Joe Brolly says 55k sets of scrubs will be made along 'hundreds of thousands of visors'.
The @oneills1918 factory in Strabane about to covert to making life saving protective gear for all our nurses & doctors, manufacturing 55k sets of scrubs & hundreds of thousands of visors. Massive credit to @KieranKennedy1 & the machinists coming in to do this life saving work
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) March 23, 2020
They confirmed that all work carried out would be done with the safety of workers in mind.
"The health and safety of our workers is paramount. We are observing government hygiene and distancing protocol."
It's amazing to see another business pivot in order to help the frontline medical workers on this island. We've seen everyone from taxi drivers to fast food companies pitch in to support our nation's medical workers during this extreme crisis. As the so-called surge in Covid-19 creeps closer, any and all medical supplies will be greatly needed. Well done to O'Neills for making their own contribution.
