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Irish Whiskey

Friday, 2 September 2016

IRISH WHISKEY RENNAISANCE TAKES A FIRM HOLD IN DROGHEDA

IRISH WHISKEY ASSOCATION WELCOMES OPENING OF BOANN DISTILLERY
DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH PROSPECTS IN IRISH WHISKEY SECTOR
GLOBAL MARKET SHARE TO GROW BY 300% BY 2030
2nd September 2015 - The Irish Whiskey Association, the representative voice for the Irish whiskey industry has welcomed the opening of Boann Distillery by the Cooney family today as another clear sign of the Irish whiskey renaissance taking a firm hold across the country. The project is significant for jobs, investment and tourism in Drogheda, with a visitor centre set to open also.
The Irish Whiskey Association recently launched the ‘Vision for Irish Whiskey’, a strategy document to support sustainable growth in the sector. The Vision for Irish Whiskey outlines the following growth projections for the industry:
      · €1.1bn will be invested between 2010-2025 and production will rise by 41%
      · Irish whiskey tourism will grow from 600,000 people to 800,000 people per year in the medium term
      · Direct employment will grow by 30% by 2025, from 5,000 to 6,500 people
      · Annual exports are now worth over €300m, up 220% since 2003. Exports are set to double by 2020 and double again by 2030
      · Global market share is set to grow by 300% by 2030: from 4% to 12%
Miriam Mooney, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association said:
“Drogheda was once home to 18 local distilleries, which slowly declined to just one by 1822. The last distillery eventually closed in 1968. The opening of Boann Distillery today is another clear sign that Irish whiskey is on the way back, with 26 new or proposed distilleries across the country. The existing players have driven the global renaissance in Irish whiskey with double-digit growth prospects. The potential is massive when we compare Ireland to Scotland, with over 130 Scottish distilleries in operation, bringing investment and employment into rural areas.”
ENDS/