Dead Centre Brewing staff Liam Tutty, John Doyle, Petra Haviernikova and Roger Rotheroe pictured in January last at the Blyry premises.

Green light for Blyry brewery project

Craft beer lovers will be toasting the news that Dead Centre Brewing has got the go-ahead for a new brewery in Blyry, four times the size of their current home in Custume Pier, on the banks of the Shannon.

The new 2,000-litre production facility in part of the former Walsh Mushrooms plant in Blyry will enable the company to cater for increased demand and to produce hit beers like 'Marooned' and 'Seeking Sunshine' in their home county. Due to the small size of their brewing premises alongside their taproom in Custume Pier, the firm is currently brewing the major volume for distribution with 12 Acres Brewing in Laois.

While craft beer fans are rejoicing at the news, local residents were not so keen with two submissions voicing concern that it is at the wrong location - at a boundary wall, just metres from Woodville Grange, an estate of 171 homes.

Woodville Grange Residents Association and Hugh Morris on behalf of Concerned Residents of Woodville Grange articulated concerns about the grain intake bringing more large birds and rodents to the area, while they also had worries about noise, odour, storage of gases and the management of spent grain.

Back in March, Westmeath County Council opted to seek further information from the applicants, seeking further details in relation to emissions, pest control and chemicals used on-site, along with a noise assessment, all of which was supplied at the end of April.

Westmeath County Council sided with the applicant on May 26, granting permission subject to compliance with seven strict conditions, including that they ensure odour emissions do not reach a certain limit at the base in Blyry Business and Commercial Park. Odour measurement by an independent testing contractor will be carried out as part of the permission, similarly, independent noise monitoring will be carried as well with limits set there too by the local authority.

Operating hours will 9am to 6pm on weekdays with no brewing at weekends unless agreed with the planning authority.

In addition, full details of each future occupier of this development must be submitted and agreed upon prior to occupying the unit, and no change of use can take place without the consent of the council.

As well as additional brewing capacity, Liam Tutty of Dead Centre Brewing said back in January, when the plans were first unveiled, that the new premises will also allow for far easier distribution and logistics with far more storage than previously.

In year one, Mr Tutty said he expected the brewery to employ four people - a head brewer, an assistant brewer, a packing operative and an operations lead.

Athlone's Mayor Cllr Aengus O'Rourke recorded his support for the planning application in the name of Central Brew Works Ltd in a representation on file.