Macardles Brewing History Goes Online

Dundalk Institute of Technology is proud to announce the launch of a new innovative project, ‘Digitising Dundalk’s Brewing Heritage’ which aims to preserve and honour the fascinating history of the Macardle Moore Brewery, a major landmark in Dundalk’s rich heritage.

With over 160 years of history behind it, the Macardle Moore Brewery is still a beloved symbol of Dundalk’s past times. In order to maintain that this important aspect of Dundalk’s history is available for future generations, the project aims to develop digital assets of all salvaged artefacts and documents from there.

This Creative Media project under the supervision of Dr Daithí Kearney and Dr Adèle Commins is in collaboration with the Macardles Historical Society and will focus on resources gathered by Jason McGee PRO, the  Louth County Archive and the Guinness Archive. In addition to safeguarding priceless artefacts and historical records, this project will hopefully improve Dundalk’s contribution to Louth’s tourism, integrating itself with the already affluent brewing history of the area.

Daithí Kearney, Co-Director of the Creative Arts Research Centre at DkIT, emphasizes the importance of this partnership:

“The materials related to Macardles are inspiring, and the opportunity to develop a collaborative project with the Macardles Historical Society is an example of how research at DkIT can engage with our local community, benefiting everybody.”

PRO Jason McGee has expressed his enthusiasm for the project:

“As founder member of the Macardles Historical Society, I am delighted to see this digitisation project kick off with the support of DkIT. We have hundreds of documents that have never been seen before by the public, with some dating right back to the foundation of the company in 1863, and we will be adding them to the Macardles website. The Macardles Brewery holds a special place in the industrial heritage of Dundalk, and the brand was known around the world in its heyday. In the same week as Diageo turns the sod on a new €200 million carbon neutral brewery in Kildare, I think it’s fitting that we also look back on one of the oldest and best breweries we have ever had in Ireland.”

This initiative is part of the CREATE – DkIT Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (SURP), funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the HEA’s TU-RISE programme. It supports undergraduate students to develop short term research projects supervised by DkIT researchers and linked to local enterprise.  Kelley O’Hanlon, a third-year Digital Marketing and Public Relations student at DkIT, is also part of the project team, contributing to the project’s development and her academic development. Students that take part in this initiative contribute to significant community participation and cultural preservation while also gaining invaluable experience.

While Kelley is currently working on materials already in collections, if anybody wants to get in touch about the project or contribute materials, please contact Jason McGee of the Macardles Historical Society at info@macardles.ie

About Dundalk Institute of Technology:

DkIT is a dynamic and innovative institute of technology, offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. DkIT is dedicated to research excellence and community engagement, fostering partnerships that benefit both students and the wider community.