News Item

Ireland's Oldest Operating Brewery Closing With The Loss of 120 Jobs.

The Irish Times- Heineken Ireland yesterday announced that it intends closing Beamish Crawford in Cork city and relocating its operations to the multinational's nearby Lady's Well brewery.

The company said that the closure will result in the loss of approximately 120 jobs, while a further 40 will transfer from Beamish Crawford to Lady's Well, where Heineken produces lager and Murphy's stout.

The two operations fell under the same ownership in October when Netherlands-based Heineken NV and Danish giant Carlsberg carved up Beamish's parent Scottish Newcastle in a €10 billion deal.

Siptu official Bill Mulcahy, who represents Beamish Crawford workers, said he was disappointed that, following several weeks of talks with management on a redundancy package, the company did not contact the unions with yesterday's news. Staff will be balloted on redundancy terms shortly. The proposed package deals with both redundancy and early retirement.

Heineken said it decided on the closure after looking at both facilities' capacity, expansion capability and future investment needs.

"This, combined with the high costs of operating two breweries in the city, difficulties associated with expansion at the Beamish Crawford facility and excess brewing capacity at Heineken Ireland, makes the future of the Beamish Crawford plant unsustainable," it said in a statement.

Beamish Crawford is the oldest continuously operating brewery in Ireland. Brewing began there in 1690. The transfer will not mean the loss of the Beamish stout brand. It and Murphy's are the only Irish rivals in the market to Guinness.

As you enjoy a locally brewed, locally owned Boulevard Dry Stout this evening, whisper a small thank you before your first sip.