Revival of the Famous Newry Distillery in Northern Ireland
Irish whiskey distilling may soon be revived in Newry in Northern Ireland. Matthew D’arcy & Company has formally submitted a planning application to build a craft micro distillery and visitor centre on the old distillery site at Monaghan Street – the site of Darcy’s Old Irish Whiskey since 1817. The scheme is designed to protect the appearance of the former 19th Century distillery building. Modern interventions communicate the change of time and industrial heritage of the area. The distillery, which will provide a number of new jobs, will have the capacity to produce around 9,000 cases a year of Old Newry Whiskey single malt.
The plans submitted include the creation of a craft micro distillery and visitor centre facilities in meticulously restored and refurbished old distillery premises. A contemporary, new extension will provide interactive exhibition space, theatre and function room, souvenir shop and boutique restaurant. The project has been welcomed as a key catalyst for regeneration in the region.
“We will now intensify our efforts to recruit a master distiller of ability and reputation to achieve our target of 9,000 cases a year,” says Michael McKeown, owner of Matthew D’arcy & Company. “We will market blends of purchased whiskey from other sources under the attractive brand names which we have registered and which are all inherited, including Blackthorn, The Native, Hand-in-Hand and Killeavey Cream.”
