Guinness goes back to its roots

St James's Gate storehouse in Dublin is a famous tourist attraction

The town of Leixlip, just west of Dublin, has been chosen by Guinness maker Diageo to be the site of its new flagship brewery.

The plant will be built on a 73-acre site in Leixlip - where the first Guinness brewery was opened in 1755.

The development is part of a 650m euro ($906.1m; �517.6m) investment in Diageo's brewing operations in the Irish Republic.

Once it opens in 2013, the firm's Kilkenny and Dundalk plants will close.

The closure of these breweries will see a cut of almost half the number of Diageo's brewing staff of 430 in the Irish Republic.

The firm said there will be the opportunity for staff to apply for jobs at the new operations in Leixlip - to be named after the founder of the Guinness brand Arthur Guinness - and at its existing St James's Gate brewery in Dublin, which is being upgraded.

GUINNESS FACTS Arthur Guinness began brewing Guinness in 1755 in Leixlip Four years later he bought a dormant brewery in Dublin and transferred operations to St James's Gate By the end of the 19th century, the brewery was the biggest in the world and the firm listed on the London Stock Exchange When the new brewery opens in Leixlip, it will overtake St James's Gate in size and production capacity Source: Diageo

"A new world-class brewery built in a location with such close historical links and with the full support of the Guinness family, is a remarkable milestone in the life of a remarkable brand," said Brian Duffy, Guinness global brand director.

Getting bigger

Most of the proposed site - about 50 acres - will be purchased from the Guinness family.

The remaining 23 acres is currently owned by Kildare County Council.

Located nine miles (14km) from St. James's Gate, the proposed site will focus on the production of Guinness as well as Diageo's other ales and lagers, which include Smithwicks, Kilkenny and Harp, for export.

It will be the biggest brewery in the Irish Republic, usurping the position currently held by the firm's St James's Gate plant.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, St James's Gate will brew Guinness beer mainly for the Irish and British markets.

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