British drinks giant Diageo has officially opened its new Littleconnell Brewery in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, a €300 million carbon-neutral facility that marks a major milestone in the company's long-term commitment to beverage manufacturing in Ireland. The Irish Independent reported on the opening, which took place on 11 May 2026 and was attended by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

The 40-acre facility will produce a range of ales and lagers including Rockshore, Harp, Smithwick's, and Kilkenny, alongside licensed beers such as Carlsberg, supplying both Irish and international markets. The brewery will be 100% powered by renewable energy.

The project, supported by Enterprise Ireland, created around 650 jobs during construction and will sustain more than 50 highly skilled permanent roles.

The new brewery forms part of Diageo's larger €1 billion capital investment programme across the island of Ireland between 2020 and 2029. The company has also received planning approval for a second brewery on the Littleconnell site, dedicated to Guinness and Guinness 0.0, at a cost of €400 million.

Dave Lewis, CEO of Diageo, said: "Guinness is one of the world's greatest brands. Guinness is growing double digits around the world. It's the fastest growing beer brand in North America on premise. Just about everywhere we go, when we do it properly, we continue to grow."

Lewis added: "The one question I get is 'why can't I get enough Guinness?' This is the answer, or part of the answer."

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the investment underpins Ireland's sustainability and competitiveness, noting that 10% of the national barley crop and 5% of the national milk supply are used by Diageo's Irish operations.

Access the full report on Diageo's Littleconnell Brewery opening here.