Dundalk's Macardles Brewery Digitisation Project completes milestone
Digitising Dundalk’s Brewing Heritage: First phase of project concludes with major milestones
The first phase of the 'Digitising Dundalk’s Brewing Heritage' project, spearheaded by the Macardles Historical Society and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), has successfully concluded.
This ambitious initiative has seen nearly 1,000 artefacts from the historic MacArdle Moore Brewery digitised, preserving a crucial part of Dundalk’s industrial heritage for future generations.
As part of this project, the team—including Kelley O'Hanlon, a third-year Digital Marketing and Public Relations student at DkIT, Jason McGee of the Macardles Historical Society and a key contributor and former long standing employee of the brewery, Nicky McCourt—utilised cutting-edge digital technologies to meticulously document and preserve artefacts ranging from old photographs and ledgers to newspaper clippings and letters.
The project was further enriched by a rare and invaluable visit to the Guinness Storehouse Archives, where the team uncovered narratives and materials that provide deeper insight into the brewery’s history and its broader significance.
“The digitisation of these artefacts is more than just preserving old documents; it's about bringing history to life and making it accessible to the public”, noted Jason McGee. “The collaboration with DkIT, Louth County Archive the Guinness Archive and Jascom Ltd has been instrumental in achieving our goals.
“This project not only showcases the power of technology in preserving history but also highlights the importance of partnerships in uncovering and sharing our cultural heritage.”
Throughout this phase, the team has uncovered fascinating stories, from the brewery’s economic challenges to its pivotal role in the community. These narratives will be explored further in future phases of the project, as the team continues to examine the archives.
The project, facilitated under DkIT's Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (SURP), is a testament to the value of research and technology in preserving history. The digitised artefacts will be made available on the Macardles.ie website allowing the public to explore and engage with Dundalk’s brewing legacy.
This milestone marks the end of the first phase, but it is only the beginning. The team says it will continue to update the Macardles.ie website with new findings and insights as they work towards uncovering more of Dundalk’s brewing history.
The Macardles Historical Society says it is committed to preserving and promoting the rich history of Macardle's Brewery.
Through various initiatives, the society aims to make historical documents and artefacts accessible to the public, celebrating Dundalk's industrial heritage.
For those interested in following the Digitising Dundalk’s Brewing Heritage project, regular updates will be posted on the Macardles.ie website, www.macardles.ie