THE BREWING INDUSTRY IN IRELAND. 47a- 



The County Louth Breweries. 



The next largest Collection District is that of Dundalk, which contains 

 five breweries, all in the County Louth. 



The Castlebellingham and Drogheda Breweries Company, Limited, own 

 two breweries, one in Drogheda and one in Castle- 

 The Castlebelling- bellingham, which were amalgamated in 1890. The 

 ham and Drogheda Drogheda Brewery is still called Cairnes' Brewery by 

 Breweries. many, owing to the old association of the Cairnes 



family with the brewery. The late Mr. William 

 Cairnes, the grandfather of the present chairman of the Drogheda and 

 Castlebellinghcun Breweries Company, founded the Drogheda Brewery 

 so far back as 1825. The founder of the brewery was succeeded 

 by his son, Mr. Thomas Plunket Cairnes, who devoted much of his time to 

 public ciffairs. The confidence felt by the public in the large and profitable 

 nature of the trade was shown when the concern was floated in 1890 as a 

 Limited Company, in conjunction with the Castlebellingham Brewery, as 

 the capital of ^^265,000 was eagerly applied for by the public. Mr. Thomas 

 Plunket Cairnes died in 1894 and was succeeded in the Chairmanship of the 

 breweries by his son, Mr. William Plunket Cairnes. Mr. A. T. Cairnes is 

 General Manager of the Company and is assisted by Mr. J. Cecil Thornhill 

 at Drogheda, and by Mr. Charles Thornhill at Castlebellingham. In the 

 early days of the brewery, ale was its principal manufacture, and Drogheda 

 Ale was celebrated all over Ireland. From 1850 to i860, porter 

 became the more popular drink, and Cairnes' porter thenceforth 

 became recognised as a sound, full bodied, well-flavoured article. 

 The firm a few years ago were successful in introducing a light, 

 bright, highly hopped ale, at a moderate price to meet the popular 

 demand. The Cairnes are also large maltsters, having two houses at 

 the brewery, as well as Balfour's makings, a malt house at the 

 New Quay (formerly Gernon's Brewery), and the Linen Hall Makings in 

 Drogheda, which, of course, contribute in a great extent to the prosperity of 

 the local farmers. The brewery premises are conveniently situated ; the 

 north side abuts on the river, and coals and other imports can thus be 

 delivered direct into the yards, while it is but a comparatively short dis- 

 tance from the railway station. The supply of water from the Tubberboice 

 Well is considered specially good for brewing, and the Company have 

 added recently to their supply by boring through 400 feet of solid rock, 

 where eventually they tapped an excellent spring. The business of the 

 brewery extends to all parts of the country, the Company having many 

 agents and travellers under the general superintendence of Mr. Robert 

 IMcIntosh. 



The Castlebellingham Brewery is situated close to the river Glyde, and 

 the beauty and picturesqueness of its surroundings 

 The Castlebelling- leave nothing to be desired. The buildings, including 

 ham Brewery. the brewery, the malthouses, stables, and dwelling- 



houses, extend northward and cover an area of several 

 acres. The business was established early in the eighteenth century by a 

 member of the Bellingham family, who was succeeded in the ownership by 

 the Woolsey family. In 1888 the brewery was converted into a private 

 Limited Liability Company, and in 1890 it was amalgamated with the 



