It may seem strange for one of the world's most respected German headphone manufacturers to have a factory in Ireland, but they do. And it's situated slap bang in the very centre of Ireland at that. In a small town called Tullamore (click to see location).

Manager of this factory is a man called Peter Callan. Peter is an Irishman, though he doesn't sound like a top-of-the-morning Leprechaun Irishman (In fact, not many Irishmen sound like that at all at all). But the little known secret is that Peter a blindingly fast cycle rider and this was to be Peter's year where his legendary reputation on a pedaller was to come to a climactic peak. Friends, work colleagues and close associates all agreed that Peter is in extremely top condition. Biceps taught and conditioned, backside hardened with bicycle seat calluses, shoulders broken in with several black ice promoted accidents. He is the consummate cycling professional and as rumor has it, was poised to take out most of the awards for the year.

The Mallet Tavern

Sadly, Peter's high intensity cycle training program was reduced to a heart pounding halt early Monday morning 3rd May 2004 when the company factory caught fire. A major section of the building was gutted by flames. Thousands of headphones went up in smoke. The sound apparently was enormous (and as clear as a bell). Most of the production area was badly burned. The roof caved in. But in the midst of the raging inferno, Peter made a dramatic plunge through the flames to rescue his prize two wheel speed machine. Fortunately, the fire crew, having resisted the urge to detour via the famed Mallet Tavern, were able to train hoses on Peter and he emerged intact with his treasure firmly fixed under his arm.

Tullamore fire station

Rolf Meyer, President Marketing & Sales and speaker of the Executive Committee for Sennheiser immediately instructed Volker Bartels, President of Manufacturing, to rush to Ireland to help look after Peter's bicycle allowing Peter to focus his efforts on getting the factory running again.

We can all relax in the knowledge that Peter Callan is an extremely competent man and it will not take him long to get the factory back to a position whereby it continues to contribute to the alleged Aust $458 million turnover that Sennheiser achieved in 2002. It is also comforting to hear that Volker is part way through a modification to Peter's bike that should increase it's fire handling dramatically.

The new heavily modified Volker Bartels design push bike.