Lough Gill Brewery opens new brewhall and visitor experience following Shared Island Investment
First project to open under the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme
Lough Gill Brewery has officially opened its new Brewhall and Visitor Experience, marking a major milestone for the independent Sligo brewery as it celebrates ten years in business. The project, which received €112,000 in capital funding under the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme, is the first completed project to open under the initiative.
The new visitor experience gives visitors the opportunity to discover the brewery at its source through immersive brewery tours and tastings, exhibition spaces and a dedicated visitor taproom celebrating Lough Gill Brewery's connection with Sligo, its heritage and its people.
The development was supported through the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme, part a tourism brand collaboration project being delivered by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, supported through the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Fund. The collaboration project is working to enhance the visitor’s journey by bringing together the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route in the North West and North coast regions, to develop and establish international stand-out tourism products and visitor experiences along the routes, and to improve the performance and impact of tourism on the island of Ireland.
Under the scheme, Lough Gill Brewery received a funding contribution to develop a new visitor centre celebrating Sligo's craft beer, heritage and natural beauty through immersive and sensory experiences, including a taproom, exhibition spaces and interactive multilingual displays.
Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD said:
I warmly welcome the official opening of the Lough Gill Brewery Brewhall & Visitor Experience today, the first project to open following investment through the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme earlier this year. As part of the Shared Island Initiative, the Government is supporting projects like this that create new tourism opportunities and strengthen connections in the sector across the island of Ireland. The Lough Gill Brewery visitor experience is an excellent example of how entrepreneurship and investment can help showcase the unique culture, heritage and character of a region to visitors while supporting local economic development. I wish the Lough Gill Brewery experience every continued success.
Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said:
The opening of this new visitor experience at Lough Gill Brewery demonstrates the positive impact of the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme. By investing in attractions and experiences that tell the story of local communities in compelling ways, we are strengthening Ireland's tourism offering, supporting regional development and helping to deliver economic benefits for destinations across the island. I congratulate the team at Lough Gill Brewery on reaching this significant milestone.
Caroline Bocquel, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, said:
The opening of the Lough Gill Brewery Brewhall & Visitor Experience demonstrates how targeted investment can support tourism businesses to develop distinctive visitor experiences that celebrate local stories, culture and place. As the first project to open under the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme, it is a tangible example of how the programme is helping to strengthen the tourism offering across the North-West region while encouraging visitors to explore more of the island and stay longer in local communities.
James Ward, Founder and Director of Lough Gill Brewery, said:
After 10 years of brewing in Sligo, it’s a very proud moment for us to officially open the Brewhall and Visitor Experience. We’ve always had a strong connection with Sligo, and this gives us the opportunity to share more of that story. Visitors can see where the beer is made, meet the people behind it and enjoy it right here at the brewery. The support through the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast scheme has been hugely important in helping us develop the visitor experience, and we’re excited to now welcome people through the doors.
The official opening celebrations commenced today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live broadcasting from Ocean FM, brewery tours and tastings, and live music.
Celebrations continue tomorrow with a Family Fun Day featuring brewery tours, meet-the-brewers sessions, children's entertainment, games, live music and food from local vendors.
The opening marks ten years of Lough Gill Brewery in Sligo and the beginning of a new chapter for the business as a visitor destination on the Wild Atlantic Way. The investment further strengthens the tourism offering in the North-West and provides visitors with a new opportunity to engage with the region's growing food and drink story.
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