A company founded by a Thurles man has been boosted by its involvement in rescuing the 33 Chilean miners two years ago.
Shannon based Mincon International was set up by Paddy Purcell from Borroway, Thurles in 1977 and is now run by his son Joe.
In 2010 the company designed and produced a drill that helped to save the miners who had been trapped underground for almost three months.
The drill went through half a mile of rock which then allowed communication with the miners and also provided a way of getting food, water and medical supplies to them.
Mincon has recently filed accounts which show the company almost doubled its pre-tax profits to €5 million in 2010.
