No whiskey in the jar-storing warehouse

Councillor condemns refusal of planning permission

A COUNCILLOR said he was “aghast and frightened” that Galway County Council turned down planning permission for a warehouse in Ballinasloe that would allow Ahascragh Distillers to store casks of whiskey.

The matter was brought up by Cllr Tim Broderick at the December meeting of the Ballinasloe Municipal District Council, where it was said that Ahascragh Distillers spent €35,000 on the planning application process for a proposed warehouse in the Earls Park Industrial Estate, only to see their application refused on November 29.

The company was given four weeks to appeal the Council’s refusal to An Bord Pleanála. Ahascragh Distillers is operated by Gareth and Michelle McAllister, and they are currently refurbishing the old mill in the village of Ahascragh to make it into an eco-distillery and visitor centre.

“I am aghast and frightened that the planning application was refused. The development would create a hub in Earls Park, a niche in the market for the storage of casks of whiskey,” said Independent Cllr Broderick.

“The centre of Ahascragh is full of the cars of people working on the distillery. It will create employment for the area, and yet we cannot see beyond our noses.”

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