Western Ways

Stephen Cunneen, the owner, inside the ‘pub’ in the brewery . The Treaty Brewery will produce a number of beers, including two IPAs, a pale ale and a red ale. In the brewing process there are no additives or preservatives used and the water comes from the river Shannon

Two new drink production outlets have opened in the past twelve months on the West Coast, one using ancient methods and recipes to produce quality whiskey, the other a microbrewery in the heart of Limerick’s Medieval Quarter.

In May 2019 a brand new micro-brewery opened to the public in Limerick. Named the Treaty City Brewery it is located in the city’s Medieval Quarter on Nicholas Street where two derelict buildings with previous links to an 18th century brewing industry lay idle for a number of years. Historical records show that Number 25 was once home of Arthur Roche three times Mayor of the city who had his own brewery situated at the rear. This brewery operated until 1756. There are records the City Brewery ( also known as Newgate Brewery) in Newgate Lane was in fact one of the first breweries in the south of the country proving brewing was once a thriving industry from the 1700’s around this Medieval Quarter.

The new brewery was awarded the lease of numbers 24 and 25 as part of Limerick City and County Council’s strategy to revitalise this street. The owner subsequently started to use the micro-brewery as an experimental and innovation hub to develop new beer recipes complimenting its large production facility. In the brewing process there are no additives or preservatives used and the water comes from the river Shannon. Names of the beers include Harris Pale Ale, Thomond Red Ale and Shannon River IPA. Stephen Cunneen the owner who has a degree in engineering decided to sympathetically fit out the properties reflecting the period architecture, ‘we tried to be as true to the heritage of the area as possible and let the building speak to us. The original windows and surrounds were kept and all paint colours were mixed on site to match the colours of the plasterwork on the walls’. These were certainly important decisions as the brewery stands a very short distance from St. John’s Castle.

Speaking to Senior Times Stephen said ‘since opening in 2019 we developed a number of revenue streams in our new facility and during the summer period offered group tours and tastings which proved very popular with tourists and locals alike. This year we are planning on expanding this offering to coffees, plus adding some music and entertainment which we feel will enhance the already notable offering. Outside seating is being installed to allow summer afternoons enjoying a beer on the newly pedestrianised street’. Last December the brewery hosted its first wedding which Stephen says was a roaring success.

The Treaty City Brewery is normally open 6 days a week with tours operating several times a day. They also welcome corporate groups, private beer tastings, food and beer pairings and special events. A new on-line shop has recently been added. ‘Plans are being put in place to re-open when the time is right following the Covid-19 pandemic’, Stephen told me. www.treatycitybrewery.ie .

It is known that one of very first whiskey distilling operations started in the Banner County was by the Cistercian monks at Corcomroe Abbey beside Bell Harbour in the heart of the Burren. Now 400 or so years later a new enterprise has started close to the village of Ballyvaughan not only producing a good whiskey but using the same methods as the monks all those years ago.

Clare native Noel O’Lochlainn decided about 10 years ago to re-invent a distillery business in the area using the same methods and locally grown grain. Nearly 30 years previously he was involved as one of a team researching the Burren clans of old including the O’Lochlainns and the idea to open a distillery and produce premium whiskey was born. Noel has worked for close to 50 years in the wine and spirit business including a vineyard and wine making facility in France.

He sought planning permission for his project but was refused. Eventually in 2014 it was given the green light by An Bord Pleannála and plans went ahead to construct the distillery, warehouse and small malting. In 2015 he gathered together a small group of investors for the project all from different walks of life. Work started in 2018 and production began last year.

Noel points out that the grain as in old times comes from Corcomroe, the whole operation is a 100% natural and includes a lot of re-cycling. “The residue of the malt processed is used to feed cattle in a nearby farm and spent pot ale is flushed into a large copper tank then used as fertiliser. The copper component is very helpful for the Burren. Most of the water we require comes from our own well with added rain water”.

The whiskey is made in the Sean Gael style which is pre-Norman and it’s the only floor malted barley matured in virgin Irish oak barrels anywhere in Ireland. In the past year Jack O’Shea the noted distiller and whiskey consultant came on board in a consultancy role. Approximately four times a year samples are sent to Maynooth University for analysis to ensure everything conforms to set standards.

Noel plans to sell the whiskey to Whiskey Clubs which are increasing around the world, similar to wine societies. ‘We are small producers (up to 50,000 bottles a year maximum) so compared to medium sized operations producing 2-3 million bottles we will not be in a position to supply pubs or hotels . Marketing worldwide will begin in earnest towards the end of 2020’.

Bord Bia he says have been very helpful on the marketing front and some months ago brought a Russian group to the plant who were very impressed with what they saw. There are high hopes of exporting also to Japan and the Middle East.

For now work continues on the lay- out of the premises and Noel is training four young local people as distillers and the craft of malting. While the distillery will not be open to the public for the foreseeable future a time will come, he points out, when visitors will be able to source and taste the whiskey, but only around the local area of the Burren.

The whiskey is made in the Sean Gael style which is pre-Norman and it’s the only floor malted barley matured in virgin Irish oak barrels anywhere in Ireland.

Keep an eye out in your local bookshop for a new book by prolific travel writer Paul Clements called Shannon Country - in the footsteps of Richard Hayward.

Just prior to WW2 Irish travel writer Richard Hayward set out on a road trip exploring the Shannon region. Now 80 years on and inspired by this book Paul has re-traced the journey of some 344km travelling by car, foot, bicycle and boat discovering how the riverscape has changed but is still powerful in symbolism.

The book includes stories told by anglers, sailors, lock keepers and bog artists among others and the writer gives an intimate portrait of the hidden countryside, its people, topography and wildlife. It is published by Lilliput Press and due to go on sale very soon.

For more than a century, Depaul’s Back Lane Hostel has been caring for the homeless. Since 2002 Depaul has kept the door open serving some of the most vulnerable in our society'

Depaul is a cross-border charity supporting people who are homeless or experiencing homelessness. In 2002 Depaul were invited by the Vincentian Family and the Irish Government of the time to create Back Lane in 1915 services for people who had found themselves on the margins of society. Depaul’s low threshold approach to service delivery meant that people could receive the support they so badly needed. Along the way we have pioneered, creating services never imagined before. Like our Sundial House service in Dublin which was set up in 2008. This service provides long term accommodation for people who previously had long spells of rough sleeping and who have entrenched alcohol addiction. Over the years our specialised approach has remained. For example our Suaimhneas service is designed to support women who are transitioning from drug treatment programmes. In our distinctive Tus Nua service we provide support to women who are leaving Dochas prison and who were at risk of homelessness. More recently we have been supporting families and individuals residing in Direct Provision Centres through our Cosán Nua or ‘New Path’ service, helping those who have been granted asylum to begin to integrate within communities across Ireland. Last year we worked across seven counties, helping to find accommodation for 328 people, including 168 adults and 160 children. In the midst of the current Covid-19 pandemic Depaul has yet again been at the forefront. In partnership with other homeless charities, isolation units were set up and hundreds of the most vulnerable cocooned safely as we navigate through this unprecedented health crisis. Depaul works under five key areas of service provision. These include; Health & Rehabilitation, High Support Accommodation, Families & Young People, Prevention and Housing. From our first service we have grown to now provide over 30 specialised services across the island of Ireland.

As we have grown we have taken with us our specialised approach, meeting people where they are at in life. Free from judgement and always with care and compassion. Last year Depaul helped over 4,500 men, women and children. We continue to deliver on our mission to end homelessness and change lives. Since the COVID-19 emergency, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s, ASI, National Helpline, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is experiencing increased calls from people with dementia and their family carers who are feeling increasingly isolated in their own communities. The issues on these calls include difficulties adapting the new routine and to new challenges connected to sleep disruption, increased confusion, frustration and lack of motivation and concerns about personal care and continence management to name but a few.

The National Helpline has expanded with a new free call-back service which offers people with dementia and family carers from anywhere in Ireland the opportunity to book a 1:1 session with a Dementia Nurse or a Dementia Adviser during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

This new service creates a space for people with dementia and their families to raise issues that may be arising for them during the cocooning phase of the COVID-19 Emergency including changes in behaviour, medication, continence management, issues regarding nutrition and hydration as well as carer stress and strategies to cope. People with dementia and their family carers who want to avail of this new service can contact the National Helpline on 1800 341 341, email at helpline@alzheimer.ie or via Live Chat at www.alzheimer.ie to make an appointment. The Helpline is open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and on Saturdays 10am to 4pm.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has also developed some tip sheets and a number of factsheets to help support people with dementia and their families in a challenging and rapidly changing situation including information on activities, changes in behaviour as well as tip sheets for people with dementia and supporting people with dementia in the community for more information visit www.alzheimer.ie/

The health crisis has been a perfect storm for people with dementia and their carers with the closure of our day centres in particular, along with social clubs, Alzheimer cafés and face-to-face carer training. However, throughout this public health emergency, The ASI has continued to support people with dementia and their families as our Home Care, Dementia Advisers, Alzheimer National Helpline and Online Family Carer Training have remained operational.

The ASI has also implemented new ways of providing ASI supports remotely to our clients and their families such as regular telephone calls and activity packages for people to use in their own homes, new Virtual Cafés and an Online Support Group for Family Carers.

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