CONSERVATIONISTS seeking to preserve the historic Beamish and Crawford brewery in Cork will meet officials in the Netherlands embassy in Dublin this week to express concerns over the planned sale of the site by Heineken.
Representatives of the National Conservation and Heritage Group (NCHG) will meet the cultural attaché on Thursday when they plan to express concerns over the planned sale of the site by the owners.
The group hopes to schedule a meeting with Heineken global directors in the Hague to discuss the future of the Beamish site as a result of the meeting in Dublin.
Heineken bought the Beamish brewery – located on South Main Street in Cork – as part of a €10.5 billion deal last December.
The NCHG wants to see a microbrewery and visitor centre installed on the site to preserve its legacy as the oldest brewery in Ireland, which it says will create jobs and attract tourists. NCHG chairman Damien Cassidy said Heineken should have more regard for the site and he raised questions over the Competition Authority’s handling of the sale.
“We believe that Heineken should have more regard for Irish history and culture than to sell off the oldest brewery in the 32 counties on the open market. In Holland, the company spends a lot of money protecting their own culture and we think this ethos should be extended to Ireland.”
Heineken Ireland declined to comment but reiterated its commitment to ensuring the Counting House building (with its mock-Tudor facade) will be presented to the market in its “current pristine condition mindful of the listed status that exists on same”.
The company also reaffirmed its commitment to the sensitive decommissioning of the site.
NCHG honorary secretary Mick Murphy said the proposed sale “could reflect badly on the Dutch government and people”.