Guinness owner Diageo is set to submit a €200m project to Kildare County Council to scale up its new carbon-neutral brewery complex in Lilliconnell.
Work on the site has continued since construction began last June. In a statement on Thursday, Diageo said the upgrade would allow the facility to produce over 4.5 million hectolitres of product annually – more than double its current output.
The company has previously identified the site as a key site for the production of lagers and ales under brands including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick's, Kilkenny and Carlsberg.
The planned expansion will now enable the facility to be used to scale up production of Guinness and the non-alcoholic version Guinness 0.0 in promising international markets.
Currently, the St James Gate brewery in Dublin remains the sole location for the production of Guinness 0.0, while classic Guinness is brewed at a number of facilities around the world.
The facility will become an important link in the global supply chain for Guinness and Guinness 0.0 to countries with growing demand.
The expansion decision follows figures from June showing a 161 per cent increase in Guinness 0.0 retail sales between 2022 and 2025. The successful launch of the product in Ireland has boosted Diageo's confidence in its global prospects.
A company spokeswoman stressed that Dublin's St James's Gate brewery would remain the “heart and soul” of the brand, continuing to supply key markets including Ireland, the UK and the US.
“Diageo’s commitment to this historic site – its past, present and future – remains unwavering,” she said.
The planning application for the project is expected to be submitted in early November. The expansion at Lilliconnell is part of Diageo's long-term strategy to increase operational flexibility to capture new market opportunities.
According to the speaker, “the implementation of these plans depends on external circumstances, but it confirms Ireland’s priority as an export-oriented platform for sustainable development.”
Colin O'Brien, Diageo's head of global beer supply, commented: “This initiative provides the infrastructure foundation for the future expansion of Guinness and Guinness 0.0.
The increased capacity will better serve new markets while strengthening Ireland's role as a leading beer exporter.
This is a progressive step in the field of environmentally friendly production, setting new industry standards for energy efficiency and rational water use.”
Diageo expects additional tariffs worth €133m in the US… Details
The first trial batch of beer at the Lilliconnell site is planned for early 2026.
The company expects accelerated approval of the new stage of the project.
The €200 million development was initially given planning approval in July 2022, but work was halted after a lawsuit by John Lynch, the sole opponent of the project, challenging the regulator's decision in December 2023.
Last year, the farmer and undertaker withdrew his claims after reaching an agreement with Diageo in mediation.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
