Huge whiskey distillery development near Kilkenny refused planning permission

A planning application for a huge whiskey distillery has been refused by the Carlow County Council for a site location in Bagenalstown, just over the Kilkenny-Carlow border.

The site is located at the old Dunleckney Maltings, Dunleckney in Bagenalstown and the proposal was submitted by WW Equity House Trading Ltd. t/a Walsh Whiskey at the aforementioned location, comprised of the establishment of an Irish Whiskey Distillery and associated Visitor Centre at the premises.

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Dunleckney Maltings is included in the County Carlow Record of Protected Structures.

The planning application was made on April 18 last year with the decision to refuse the planning coming on March 24, 2025.

The proposal submitted to Carlow County Council is extensive and some of the works proposed included:

The conversion of existing buildings for the production of Irish whiskey including Mill Room, Mash Room, Pot Still House, Fermenter Vessel Room, cleaning-in-place station, plant rooms, cask filling/disgorging room, workshops, stores, distillery plant and equipment etc. 

The conversion of existing buildings was sought at the south of the complex to a Distillery Visitor Centre with an off license, bar and shop facilities.

Conversion of the existing building was also sought for offices, meeting rooms, laboratory, staff canteen, staff and visitor sanitary facilities etc.

A number of other works are listed in the public notice.

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A detailed description of the refusal of the planning application can be found on the Carlow County Council's planning website with some of the reasons listed for the refusal being as follows:

"The proposal to abstract water from a private borehole on the site within a zone of contribution for the Bagenalstown Public Water Supply and the location of the private borehole, downgradient of and a deeper depth to Uisce Éireanns main abstract point for public water supply. This has the potential to negatively impact on yield for the public water supply in the town.

"Insufficient information has been provided regarding the feasibility of a connection to the Uisce Éireann infrastructure network in the area.

"Insufficient information regarding the full nature and extent of the proposed development as coming within the scope of the Chemicals Act."

The full list of reasons with a more detailed explanation can be found on the Carlow Council Planning Website.

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