The expansion of Ireland’s indigenous whiskey industry shows no sign of slowing. The latest news from the sector comes from Louth, where the Boann Distillery and visitor centre announced it will create up to 80 new jobs when its state-of-the-art distillery opens in 2016.

The Boann Distillery is the realisation of a long-held ambition of the Cooney family who have invested more than €20m in the Drogheda-based facility. Pat Cooney built the Gleeson Group to be a major player in the Irish manufacturing and wholesale drinks business over the last 40 years.

The Cooney family’s €20m facility will include a whiskey distillery, Boyne Brewhouse craft brewery and taproom, an architecturally designed visitor centre which will host distillery and brewery tours, a 120-seater restaurant, whiskey bar, private event space and a gift shop.

Drogheda was once home to 18 local distilleries, which slowly declined to just one by 1822. The last distillery in Drogheda was eventually closed in 1968.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said: “Today’s announcement of 80 new jobs in Drogheda, as part of a €20m investment supported by my Department through Enterprise Ireland, is a great boost for the town and the wider northeast region.”

Boann Distillery says it is committed to having its malt barley supplied by farmers in the Cooley Peninsula (Meath/Louth area), and will be looking to contract suppliers in the next two months.