Dr Pearse Lyons
Dundalk-born entrepreneur Pearse Lyons has bought a Newry-based craft brewery.
Lyons, who used to work in the Harp Lager brewery in Dundalk, is the brains behind US firm Alltech.
While their main business is animal nutrition, it is also developing a brewing and distilling division.
Now though, Lyons has bought the Station Works brewery from the Haughey family, better known as the owners of Norbrook Laboratories. The deal also includes the Cumberland Breweries at Great Corby in the north of England.
Alltech produces craft beers at its US facility in Kentucky and said this deal will give it a platform for expansion in Europe.
He described the purchase as “a kind of homecoming for me, as well as a big moment for the beverage side of the company and for craft brewing in Britain and Ireland”.
The Station Works brewery began operation in 2013 on a site behind Newry train station.
It brews Finn lager and Foxes Rock pale ale. It also houses a bottling and canning facility.
A spokesperson for Norbrook said: “We are delighted that the company will continue as a trading business under its new ownership, as a key player in the craft brewing industry.
“We will be working closely with the new owners and staff to ensure business continuity throughout the transition process.”
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