Plans unveiled for whiskey visitor centre in Offaly

Plans have been unveiled for a Whiskey Visitor Centre in the village of Shannonbridge in Offaly.

Seven Churches Whiskey Ltd has lodged a planning application with Offaly County Council and the decision is pending in the near future.

If granted it will attract more visitors to the area and will also create new jobs.

In its application Seven Churches is seeking “the retention of a 35 square metre extension to the existing storeroom and plant room on the lower ground floor.”

The company is also seeking permission for the “change of use of 52 square metres of the existing storeroom and plant room on the lower ground floor, adapting it as a whiskey tasting experience visitor area to include a tasting, exhibition, and merchandise area, ancillary staff, and storage facilities.”

Also sought is “the retention of a 97 square metres extension to the ground floor, comprising a Bar and Restaurant; the retention of 6 columns to support temporary lighting; the relocation of 9 bicycle stands to an alternate location on site; the retention of an enclosed outdoor seating area of 75 square metres, an enclosed partially covered storage area of 23 square metres, an enclosed bin storage area of 7.5 square metres, an access ramp of 44 square metres, a yard 32 square metres, and covered pedestrian access/egress from the main street of 49 square metres on the existing eastern elevation, together with all associated and ancillary works.”

The company gets its name from the seven churches of Clonmacnoise. It's believed that the technique of whiskey distilling was first brought to Ireland from the continent by Irish monks at the beginning of the 11th Century.