55 jobs are to be created at a whiskey distillery in Co. Carlow. The jobs will be created as part of a €25 million investment at the Walsh Distillery.
A new distillery and a visitor centre are to be built at Royal Oaks along the banks of the River Barrow. The estate of 40 acres includes an 18th century country house, which will be restored as part of the development plan.
A further 40 jobs will also be created in the construction phase of the project during the 18 month development phase, which is meant to commence - subject to planning permission - in spring next year.
They will come on-stream over the next five years. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is supporting this project through Enterprise Ireland.
The planned distillery visitor centre will cater for 75,000 so-called 'whiskey tourists' by 2021.
Irish whiskey has been the fastest growing spirit in the world in the last 5 years; growing from 4.4 million cases to 6.5 million since 2008. Drinks industry analysts expect that growth to continue with sales of Irish whiskey expected to double to over 12 million cases in the next 5 years.
