Donegal Blonde to expand

From left: Sinead and John O’Reilly with daughter Isabella and father John O’Reilly cut the ribbon at the launch of Donegal Brewing Company in Ballyshannon.

The brewery behind Donegal Blonde, now available in over 200 retail and hospitality outlets nationwide, is to increase its brewing capacity next year due to nationwide demand.

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Donegal Brewing Company in Ballyshannon currently brews 2,000 bottles of Blond per week. However the microbrewery-pub & off-licence is to get larger tanks next February to help it cope with the increasing demand from from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and early interest from the UK according to Brewer Patrick Gallagher.

37 years after opening the doors of the Anchor Bar – now known as Dicey Reilly’s in Ballyshannon – John O’Reilly officially launched his son Brendan’s Donegal Brewing Company recently.

Operations actually began a year ago and within that year the microbrewery launched its first product, Donegal Blonde.
Brendan O’Reilly, current owner of Dicey Reilly’s and its award-wining off-licence is the man behind the microbrewery. He firmly believes that the support he received from Donegal Local Development Company and the Leader fund helped diversify his business out from an ailing pub trade.

“It’s been a tough time for all businesses but the pub trade in particular has been badly hit by the recession,” explained Brendan, “I knew I needed to do something innovative to stem the receding waters and my interest in craft beers and the success of our off-licence Dicey Reilly’s planted the seeds of my new crop.”

The Leader Rural Development Programme, administered by Donegal Local Development Company, part-funded the development of the microbrewery and has continued to support the project by funding the expansion of capacity at the facility.
DLDC Chairman Jim Slevin spoke of the entrepreneurial spirit displayed by Brendan and his commitment to the family business.
“Leader promotes diversification of enterprise and this project is a great case in point. The Board of DLDC saw the export potential of this small business and the spin-off effects for other local suppliers,” he said, “We’re delighted to see Donegal Brewing Company being officially launched and adding greatly to what’s a thriving food sector in County Donegal.”

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