GUINNESS PRODUCER DIAGEO is to lodge plans with Kildare County Council to double the brewery capacity of its €200m state-of-the-art carbon neutral brewery at Littleconnell, Co Kildare.

Diageo had already earmarked the Co Kildare brewery as a production hub for Diageo lager and ales including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny and Carlsberg.

Now, the planned doubling of capacity will result in the plant becoming a production hub for Guinness and Guinness 0.0 growth in emerging markets.

Diageo’s €200m Littleconnell Brewery in Kildare. Naoise Culhane Naoise Culhane

St James Gate in Dublin is currently the only Diageo site in the world where Guinness 0.0 is brewed, though Guinness is brewed in many locations around the world.

Construction work at the Kildare brewery has been continuing since June of last year and Diageo today confirmed that the proposed expansion will more than double the brewery’s capacity to 4.5 million hectolitres.

The expansion plans come amid reports that volume sales of Guinness 0.0 on draught grew 161% between June 2022 and March 2025.

Diageo is now eyeing the zero alcohol product’s global potential based on its Irish rollout.

Construction progressing at Diageo’s €200m Littleconnell Brewery in Kildare. Naoise Culhane Naoise Culhane

A spokeswoman for Diageo stressed that St. James’s Gate in Dublin “will remain the heart and soul of Guinness” and that “Diageo’s commitment to this iconic site remains stronger than ever”.

Diageo expects to lodge the planning application in early November and the proposed expansion at Littleconnell “forms part of Diageo’s long-term plan to increase capacity and flexibility to support future growth opportunities as they arise”.

The Diageo spokeswoman said that “while the realisation of this expansion will depend on a number of external factors, it reflects Diageo’s long-standing commitment to Ireland and reinforces the country’s position as a strategic base for sustainable export-led growth”.

Construction at Diageo’s €200m Littleconnell Brewery in Kildare. Naoise Culhane Naoise Culhane

Commenting on the new plans to be lodged, Diageo’s Global Head of Beer Supply, Colin O’Brien said the planned expansion at Littleconnell is designed to position the company for “future global growth opportunities for Guinness and Guinness 0.0”. 

He added: “It’s a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable brewing and will be an industry gold standard for energy and water efficiency.”

It is expected that first brew for lagers and ales at the Littleconnel site will take place in early 2026.