Ireland’s Carlow County Council has denied planning permission for Amber Beverage Group’s (ABG) proposed distillery in Dunleckney for its Walsh Whiskey business.
The decision, issued on 20 March, followed an application last year from the company seeking approval to construct the Irish whiskey distillery.
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ABG announced plans in 2023 to invest €35m (then $37.1m) in a new distillery in Dunleckney. The site was to be used to produce Walsh Whiskey’s two brands Writers’ Tears and The Irishman.
In a statement on the development, Walsh Whiskey CEO John Griffin said: “We appreciate the careful consideration that Carlow County Council has given to our planning application for a world-class Irish whiskey distillery. While we are naturally disappointed with the decision, we respect their process and the diligence involved.
“As with any project of this scale, there are many factors and stakeholders to consider. We are committed to engaging in constructive dialogue with all parties involved, and we are confident that the concerns raised are not insurmountable. Our team is dedicated to addressing these matters collaboratively.”
The planned distillery site at Dunleckney is an 18th-century location by the River Barrow. It has housed a corn mill, a water-powered brewery, and later malthouses.
In rejecting ABG’s proposal, the council cited several concerns, including the location of a private borehole which it believed could “negatively impact on yield for the public water supply”.
The council determined that the development “poses a risk of continuity for the public water supply” and permitting it “would be prejudicial to public health”.
Further grounds for rejection included “insufficient information” having been given to the local planning authority “regarding the feasibility of a connection to, and the availability of sufficient capacity in” the local water utility group “Uisce Éireann’s infrastructure network in the area to cater for the proposed development in relation to public water supply and wastewater collection”.
It noted additionally that no clear details were provided on infrastructure upgrades that might be needed to accommodate construction of the site.
The council further highlighted that the proposal to use biofuel or light diesel oil instead of LPG gas had not been assessed in its submitted ecological assessment, the Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
It added that adequate consideration had not been given to potential environmental impacts of the development, as well as any potential effect on “the integrity of Special Area of Conservation (River Barrow and River Nore SAC)”.
When asked whether Walsh Whiskey had plans to submit a new planning application for the distillery in Dunleckney, Griffin told Just Drinks: “our intention is to work on addressing the concerns that were raised with our initial application and we will then resubmit planning”.
