Local lament as time called on Beamish brewery

ONE of Cork city’s best known characters has lamented the closure of the Beamish & Crawford brewery, saying Cork will lose part of its soul.

Comedian Billa O’Connell, 79, a former Beamish sales rep, believes the firm’s figurehead, Richard Beamish, would be disgusted. “I knew Dickie Beamish well and he’d be turning in his grave. The company meant so much to him. A huge piece of Cork has gone,” said Billa.

Historians say beer has been brewed on the Beamish & Crawford site since the early 1600s, although the brand itself has only been around since the late 1700s.