'It's a very sad day': Franciscan Well Brewery to close while popular bar remains open

Molson Coors will shut the Franciscan Well Brewery next year, ending production of its Cork-made brands and affecting 15 staff

Molson Coors, which acquired the brewery in 2012, said it will close in the new year. 

The owner of Cork’s long-standing Franciscan Well Brewery will close the facility in the new year, with the production of its well-known brands also set to cease.

Molson Coors, which acquired the brewery in 2012, said the decision to close “was not taken lightly” and was made in the face of a challenging craft beer category and ongoing economic pressures on customers.

However, the Franciscan Well bar and microbrewery on North Mall will remain open.

The brewery, located on Cork's docklands, said it has not been able to grow the brands to the level needed to sustain the brewery as part of the company’s UK and Ireland production network.

First established in 1998 by Shane Long, the Franciscan Well brewery produces popular drinks such as Chieftain IPA, Rebel Red, Well Hazy, Shandon Stout and the Docklands Series.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Long, who continues to operate the Franciscan Well microbrewery and bar on North Mall, said he was devastated by the announcement, calling the closure “very emotional.”

“I spent 25 years of my life building that brand. It’s a very sad day, particularly for the 15 people who will now be out of a job for Christmas.”

The closure will impact 15 staff members, the company confirmed.

The brewery has entered a consultation process with affected employees and said it will seek redeployment for all displaced staff wherever possible.

"Over the past decade, we have invested in the Franciscan Well Brewery and the brand portfolio, most recently refreshing the visual brand identity in November 2022, and releasing new product development with Well Hazy in early 2023 and the Docklands Series in 2024," Molson Coors said.