KILKENNY:NEWS OF Diageo's restructuring plan was greeted with dismay in Kilkenny, where Ireland's oldest operating brewery is set to close.
Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce president John Purcell said it was “a sad day” for the city and closure of the 300-year-old St Francis Abbey Brewery would mark “the end of an era”.
The Smithwick’s brewery site contains buildings of significant historic interest, he said.
“It is to be hoped that, rather than simply closing up their brewery in 2013 and walking away from Kilkenny, Diageo will work constructively with the local authorities and business interests in Kilkenny to explore ways in which the fine heritage represented by their brewery in Kilkenny can be preserved and developed,” Mr Purcell said.
Kilkenny city councillor and Green Party environment spokesman Malcolm Noonan criticised Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton for welcoming the Dublin expansion, on a day when closure dates were confirmed for Kilkenny and Dundalk.
“What the Minister is effectively doing is welcoming job losses brought about by a multinational’s loyalty to its shareholders over its workers and the loss of 300 unbroken years of brewing tradition in Kilkenny and a similar heritage in Dundalk.”
That tradition should not be consigned to history, Mr Noonan said.
“I would go further and plead with Diageo to set up a fund and provide support for a micro-brewery and interpretative centre to be established in Kilkenny, which would give some employment to former workers and maintain a presence of brewing for visitors,” he said.
The brewery was earmarked for closure by Diageo in 2008 but given a late reprieve.
At the time, Phil Hogan – now Minister for the Environment – described the mooted closure as a “devastating blow” for Kilkenny.
A Diageo representative said yesterday there were no plans yet for the brewery sites, which would become vacant next year.