Trouble brewing: Diageo closure plan

GUINNESS owner Diageo yesterday unveiled revised plans to expand its stout brewery in the heart of Dublin but close two other sites in Ireland.

The €153 million (£128m) plan will bring all of the drinks giant’s Irish brewing together on one site but falls short of the “super-brewery” scheme unveiled for the west of Dublin in 2008. Those plans would have involved the closure of Dublin’s historic St James’s Gate site, which is Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction, but were put on ice after the downturn in the Irish property market.

Under the new initiative, smaller breweries in Dundalk and Kilkenny will close with the loss of some 100 jobs.

As well as owning Guinness, Diageo is Scotland’s largest whisky distiller, with brands including Johnnie Walker, Bell’s and Talisker.