Oatfield Sweets
The McKinney Family have been trading in Letterkenny for close to 100 years. The business first started as a wholesale and retail outlet on the Port Road. The premises are now occupied by Mr. Patrick Tinney as a clothing and outfitters shop.
In 1927, the late Mr. Ira and Mr. Haddon McKinney decided to make their own sweets and in August of that year the first sweets were made on the open coke fire in a shed at the back of the shop. The land on which the factory now stands was purchased in November 1929; the first sod was cut in February 1930. Six people were employed at the time.
The trade name of the company at that time was “Mayfield Confectionery” but this was changed when it was discovered that another confectionery firm in Manchester, North of England had the same name. The land on which the factory is built was known as “Oatfield” so the “May” was dropped and “Oat” substituted and hence the name “Oatfield” was arrived at.