With a total investment of nearly €1 billion in Ireland by 2029, Diageo is accelerating its production efforts with the inauguration of the new Littleconnell Brewery in Newbridge, County Kildare, designed to boost production capacity for beers such as Guinness, Guinness 0.0, Smithwick's, and Harp. The facility, officially opened by Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin alongside Diageo CEO Sir Dave Lewis, represents an initial investment of nearly €300 million and was built in less than eighteen months on a site of approximately 40 acres. The site is powered entirely by electricity from renewable sources and is part of the group's broader 2020–2029 business plan.
During the construction phase, the project created approximately 650 jobs, while over 50 new highly specialized positions were hired permanently to manage the brewery, strengthening the brewing industry's position in the local Irish economy. Littleconnell will produce a variety of beers for both the domestic market and international exports, strengthening Ireland's role within Diageo's global production network. In addition to Rockshore, Harp, Smithwick's, and Kilkenny, the site will also support the growth of licensed beers such as Carlsberg.
The company also announced a second investment of approximately €400 million for the construction of "Brewery 2," a new facility dedicated exclusively to the production of Guinness and Guinness 0.0. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and will more than double the site's overall production capacity. The expansion comes at a time of strong growth in international demand for Guinness, including the non-alcoholic version Guinness 0.0, which has become one of the group's strategic products in global markets.
"The opening of the new Littleconnell brewery is a strong signal of confidence in Ireland as an international hub for food and beverage exports," said Michael Martin, emphasizing how the project will contribute to job creation, export growth, and the country's climate goals. Sir Dave Lewis, CEO of Diageo, highlighted the growing global demand for Guinness: "Demand for Guinness and Guinness 0.0 is growing rapidly. Today, we are proud to inaugurate this state-of-the-art facility, part of our €1 billion investment plan in Ireland."
According to Colin O'Brien, the group's global head of beer supply chain, the new site will play a key role in supporting Guinness's export expansion and strengthening the resilience of its international production network. From an environmental perspective, Littleconnell integrates advanced technologies to reduce energy and water consumption. According to Diageo, the new facility will avoid up to 15 tons of CO2 emissions annually compared to a similarly sized traditional plant. The investment thus confirms the group's long-term strategy in the brewing sector, with a focus on production capacity, industrial sustainability, and international exports.
