Tourist attraction near Offaly border attracts 10,000 people annually

Cooley Distillery granted licence change for Kilbeggan Whiskey visitor centre

Published 4th Sep 2026, 13:00 BST The whiskey distillery in Kilbeggan | Tribune Pictures Cooley Distillery granted licence change for Kilbeggan Whiskey visitor centre Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

THE whiskey distillery in Kilbeggan attracts 10,000 visitors annually, Tullamore District Court heard.

Information about the visitor centre at the distillery in Kilbeggan, which is run by Cooley Distillery (formerly Locke's Distillery), was given when an application came before Judge Andrew Cody to change the name of the nominee on the licence.

Judge Cody was told the change was being sought because Ruth Wyer was taking over as visitor centre manager from Hugh Gaynor.

The court also heard the change of nominee was required before the renewal of the licence on September 30.

11 acres of land for sale in Offaly town centre for €4 million Leonard Mathews, director of Cooley Distillery, told the court he had held that position for 24 years and was the company's representative for the application.

He said Mr Gaynor, the distillery manager, had been the nominee on the licence for about 13 years and had left the company in July through restructuring and voluntary redundancy.

Mr Mathews confirmed that Ms Wyer, the distillery visitor centre manager, would be the new nominee. She had extensive experience and had been with the company for about 10 years.

A title document from September 1990 showing the purchase of Locke's by Cooley Distillery was handed into the court.

Ms Wyer, who previously worked in tourism in Scotland, told the court the staff at the bar reported to her and the distillery visitors, who numbered about 10,000 each year, arrived during daytime hours only.

Only the distillery's own products and soft drinks were for sale in the bar which also operated as a tasting centre. The distillery also had a shop.