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William Clay Ford Jr., Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company,
celebrates 100 years of Ford in Ireland by unveiling plaque in Ford
family’s ancestral home town of Ballinascarthy
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Great-grandson of Ford Motor Company founder, Henry Ford, to
participate in civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cork City,
attended by 300 current and former Ford employees
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Ford factory founded in Cork, Ireland, was established in April 1917 –
the first purpose-built Ford Motor Company factory outside of North
America
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
CORK, Ireland -- (Business Wire)
William Clay Ford, Jr., Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company and
great-grandson of the company’s founder, Henry Ford, today unveiled a
plaque and bench in Ballinascarthy, Ireland, to commemorate 100 years of
Ford in the country.
This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170420006425/en/
Bill Ford, Hazel Ford Buttimer and Ciarán McMahon, managing director of Ford Ireland (Photo: Business Wire)
The unveiling took place in the centre of Ballinascarthy, a small
village 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Cork city, Ireland, from where
Henry Ford’s father, William Ford, and his family emigrated to the U.S.
in 1847. The family settled in Michigan, where Henry Ford was born in
1863.
“I am excited and honoured to be coming home to Cork to celebrate 100
years of Ford in Ireland,” said Bill Ford. “Ford has deep roots in Cork,
not only through my family’s historical connection, but also through the
impact that the Ford factory has had as an engine for prosperity for the
area over many decades.”
During his visit Bill Ford will also participate in a civic reception at
Cork City Hall, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cork City, at which the
contribution of employees of Henry Ford & Son Limited during the past
100 years will be recognised. The event will be attended by 300 current
and former employees.
Henry Ford remained conscious of his family’s heritage throughout his
lifetime, choosing his ancestral home city of Cork as the site for the
first purpose-built Ford Motor Company factory outside of North America.
The Ford factory in Cork was established in April 1917.
As Henry Ford said in his own words: “My ancestors came from Cork, and
that city, with its wonderful harbour, had an abundance of fine
industrial sites. There was, it is true, some sentiment in it (the
decision to establish the factory in Cork).”
The company that Henry Ford legally established in 1917 was entitled
Henry Ford & Son Ltd., and that continues to be the legal name of Ford
in Ireland to this day – the only Ford entity in the world to include
the full name of the company’s founder in its title.
The Fordson tractor was initially the main product of the Cork plant,
which by 1929 had become the largest tractor factory in the world. The
factory also produced passenger cars including the iconic Model T. The
last Model T ever produced by Ford anywhere in the world rolled off the
Cork factory production line in December 1928.
The Model A, Model BF, Model Y, Prefect, Anglia, Escort, Cortina and
Sierra models also were manufactured in Cork until the plant’s closure
in 1984.
Ford today has the widest network of dealers of any automotive
manufacturer in Ireland, with 52 dealerships providing direct and
indirect employment to 1,000 people across the country.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based
in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62 plants
worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks
and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business
model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with
investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides
financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.For more
information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and
servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs
approximately 52,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and
approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated
businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford
Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24
manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture
facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first
Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor
Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
For news releases, related materials, photos and video, visit www.fordmedia.eu
or www.media.ford.com.
Follow www.twitter.com/FordEu
or www.youtube.com/fordofeurope
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170420006425/en/
Contacts:
For Ford Ireland
Pearse O’Loughlin
+353 87 629 9751
poloughlin@cullencommunications.ie
Source: Ford Motor Company
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