A prank press release was circulated to a number of media outlets this week proclaiming that a Geansai Gorm factory - touted as the largest facility of its kind in the world - would save the local economy in Limerick.
A number of news blog websit
es - none of which are actually based in Limerick - posted the press release without questioning it.
Limerick's new Jumper Assembly and Manufacturing (JAM) plant would accompany Geansai Gorm's new European Jumper Instrumentation and Test facility - also known as the EJIT facility - the false release claimed.
To retain the appearance of authenticity, the release also contained quotes from members of the Irish Handcraft And Very Exceptional Non-Oil Jumper & Organic Blue products Union - also known as the IHAVENOJOB Union.
One quote that gave away the game however came from Geansai Gorm's supposed CEO. Mr William Gormly supposedly claimed that the company's blue jumpers had a wide range of applications; "as cheap clothing, environmentally friendly insulation, renewable fuel and, if used with glue, a cheap house decorating material."
The company head added in the phony release that "Limerick has the X-factor, that spark. Just look at the Munster Rugby team and the support and players it gets from Limerick. If we could get just 10 per cent of that we'd be winning."
