Carroll's
Encyclopedia
P.J. Carroll & Company Limited, often called Carroll's, is a tobacco company in Ireland
, now a subsidiary of British American Tobacco
. Its cigarette
brands were among the best selling in Ireland in the twentieth century. Its factory was for decades the largest employer in Dundalk
.
as a tobacconist
in 1824 and opened a shop in Dundalk, later also manufacturing cigar
s. Patrick James moved to Liverpool
in the 1850s. His son Vincent Stannus Carroll expanded the firm in the later 19th century. His son James Marmion Carroll moved to a house outside Dundalk. A second factory was opened, in Liverpool, in 1923. The company went public
in 1934.
A purpose-built factory opened in 1970. Designed by Ronnie Tallon of Michael Scott and Partners
, it was described by Frank McDonald
as "way ahead of anything else in Ireland at the time".
Carroll's was acquired by Rothmans in 1990; Rothmans was acquired by British American Tobacco
in 1998. The company's share of the Irish tobacco market fell from 50% in 1984 to 19% in 2003. Business and Finance
magazine blamed the decline in part on expansion outside its core business
and reluctance to introduce king size cigarettes and update packaging. In 2002 the Dundalk site was sold for €16.4m to the Department of Education and repurposed for the campus of Dundalk Institute of Technology
. Carroll's rents back a small section for its remaining factory operations.
(Stickers have been placed on packs of Sweet Afton announcing that they are to be discontinued)
Of international brands, Carroll's manufactures Rothmans
and Dunhill
and distributes Winfield
, Lucky Strike
, and Kent
.
until restrictions were imposed on tobacco advertising
. The company had naming rights
over the GAA All Stars Awards
(1971–8); the Irish Open
in golf (1963–93); and Irish showjumping horses of the 1970s and 80s, such as "Carroll's Boomerang
".
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, now a subsidiary of British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
. Its cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
brands were among the best selling in Ireland in the twentieth century. Its factory was for decades the largest employer in Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
.
History
Patrick James Carroll (b.1803) completed his apprenticeshipApprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
as a tobacconist
Tobacconist
A tobacconist is an expert dealer in tobacco in various forms and the related accoutrements .Such accoutrements include pipes, lighters, matches, pipe cleaners, pipe tampers, ashtrays, humidification devices, hygrometers, humidors, cigar cutters, and more. Books and magazines, especially ones...
in 1824 and opened a shop in Dundalk, later also manufacturing cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
s. Patrick James moved to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in the 1850s. His son Vincent Stannus Carroll expanded the firm in the later 19th century. His son James Marmion Carroll moved to a house outside Dundalk. A second factory was opened, in Liverpool, in 1923. The company went public
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
in 1934.
A purpose-built factory opened in 1970. Designed by Ronnie Tallon of Michael Scott and Partners
Scott Tallon Walker
Scott Tallon Walker is an architecture practice with its head office in Dublin, Ireland and further offices in London, Galway and Cork. It is one of the largest architecture practices in Ireland...
, it was described by Frank McDonald
Frank McDonald
-Life:He was born in 1950 and educated at Kelly's Private School, Cabra Road; St Vincent’s CBS Glasnevin and University College Dublin, graduating with a BA in 1971...
as "way ahead of anything else in Ireland at the time".
Carroll's was acquired by Rothmans in 1990; Rothmans was acquired by British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
in 1998. The company's share of the Irish tobacco market fell from 50% in 1984 to 19% in 2003. Business and Finance
Business and Finance
Business and Finance is a fortnightly business magazine published in Ireland. It is a sister title to Magill.-History:The magazine has been published continually since its foundation in 1964...
magazine blamed the decline in part on expansion outside its core business
Core business
The core business of an organization is an idealized construct intended to express that organization's "main" or "essential" activity.The corporate trend in the mid-20th Century of acquiring new enterprises and forming conglomerates enabled corporations to reduce costs funds and similar investment...
and reluctance to introduce king size cigarettes and update packaging. In 2002 the Dundalk site was sold for €16.4m to the Department of Education and repurposed for the campus of Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dundalk Institute of Technology formerly Regional Technical College, Dundalk is a campus situated in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland, halfway between Dublin and Belfast . The campus is 800 metres from the main Dublin Belfast road and 3 minutes drive from the M1 motorway to Dublin. Dublin Airport...
. Carroll's rents back a small section for its remaining factory operations.
Brands
- "Sweet AftonSweet Afton (cigarette)Sweet Afton are a brand of Irish cigarettes produced by P.J. Carroll & Co., Dundalk, Ireland, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco.-Cigarette:Sweet Afton are short, unfiltered cigarettes made with Virginia tobacco.-Brand History:...
", launched in 1919, was named after "'Afton Waters" by Robert BurnsRobert BurnsRobert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
, whose sister Agnes was buried in a graveyard opposite the old Carrolls factory in Church Street, Dundalk.
(Stickers have been placed on packs of Sweet Afton announcing that they are to be discontinued)
- "Carroll’s Number 1", its first filter cigarette, was launched in 1958.
- "Major", a strong cigarette, inspired the name of Twenty MajorTwenty majorTwenty Major is an award-winning Irish blogger. The name Twenty Major is a reference to a brand of cigarettes called Major, available in packs of twenty. He lives in Dublin, Ireland and says he still smokes in bars despite the smoking ban...
, a leading Irish blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
.
Of international brands, Carroll's manufactures Rothmans
Rothmans, Benson & Hedges
Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. is a Canadian manufacturer and distributor of tobacco products. It was formed by the merger of the Canadian units of Rothmans International and Benson & Hedges, owned by Philip Morris. When British American Tobacco bought Rothmans in 1999, it spun off its 60% share...
and Dunhill
Dunhill (cigarette)
Dunhill cigarettes are a luxury brand of cigarettes made by the British American Tobacco company. They are usually priced above the average for cigarettes in the region where they are sold...
and distributes Winfield
Winfield (cigarette)
Winfield is a brand of cigarette that is popular in Australia and New Zealand. They are also sold in other markets in Europe, Canada, South Africa and Asia...
, Lucky Strike
Lucky Strike
Lucky Strike is a brand of cigarette owned by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and British American Tobacco groups. Often referred to as "Luckies", Lucky Strike was the top selling cigarette in the United States during the 1930s.- History :...
, and Kent
Kent (cigarette)
Kent is a brand of cigarettes. Kent's Micronite filter was introduced shortly after the publication of a series of articles in Reader's Digest in 1952 entitled "Cancer by the Carton", that scared American consumers into seeking out a filter brand at a time when most brands were filterless...
.
Sponsorship
Carroll's was a major sponsor of sport in IrelandSport in Ireland
In Ireland many sports, such as boxing, hockey, rowing, cricket, rugby union, Gaelic football and hurling, are organised in an all-island basis, with a single team representing the whole of Ireland in international competitions...
until restrictions were imposed on tobacco advertising
Tobacco advertising
Tobacco advertising is the advertising of tobacco products or use by the tobacco industry through a variety of media including sponsorship, particularly of sporting events. It is now one of the most highly regulated forms of marketing...
. The company had naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
over the GAA All Stars Awards
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
(1971–8); the Irish Open
Irish Open (golf)
The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
in golf (1963–93); and Irish showjumping horses of the 1970s and 80s, such as "Carroll's Boomerang
Boomerang (horse)
Boomerang, later Carroll's Boomerang, was an Irish Sport Horse ridden in show jumping competitions, most successfully by Eddie Macken.* Color: Bay* Markings: Star, near hind sock* Height: 16.2 hh...
".
External links
- P.J. Carroll & Company Limited official website