Ireland: Deasy's Brewery
Deasy’s Brewery, located just off Emmet Square in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Ireland was established in 1807 by Richard Deasy and was one of Clonakilty’s most recognizable landmarks with its striking red-brick chimneys. Prior that, Timothy Deasy, a relative of Richard had founded and operated a brewery at the opposite end of town on Ashe Street.
The Deasys were among the first Catholic families in the area to regain wealth and property following the repeal of penal laws which had long denied Catholics basic rights. Local lore suggests the family amassed their fortune in part through smuggling and unlicensed trade—a reputation cemented by the naming of "Deasy’s Quay" in Clonakilty.
The brewery became known for producing a variety of stouts, including Clonakilty Wrastler, Clonakilty XX, and the particularly robust Clonakilty XXX. They also brewed a lighter ale—modestly named "Amber Ale"—which was marketed toward women. The surrounding farmland provided an abundant supply of hops and barley, and the brewery operated its own cooperage, employing four expert coopers to craft the barrels for storage and transport.
Following the Great Famine, Richard Deasy went bankrupt, and the brewery changed hands, taken over by the Wright and Canty families. Under their management, the business flourished, even earning a bronze medal for their stout at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
However, by the 1940s, brewing operations ceased. A combination of economic decline and a shift among local farmers from crop cultivation to livestock farming led to its closure. Eventually, Guinness acquired the company and repurposed it for soft drink production—though the original Deasy’s logo remained proudly displayed on the bottles, a quiet nod to the town’s brewing legacy.






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