€171,000 pre-tax profits at Carlow Brewing

Brewer of the O’Hara’s craft beer range the Carlow Brewing Company, based in Bagenalstown, saw a significant turnaround in pre-tax profits to €170,830 in the year to 31st March 2019 from a loss of €245,563 the year before.

And Carlow Brewing’s turnover was up nearly 24% to over €10 million from €8.15 million the previous year.

At €201,733 the company’s Operating Profits showed growth of 8% from the previous year’s €186,573.

Carlow Brewing Company employs 84 people, up eight on the previous year, comprising 43 in production and service (up from 35 the year before), 21 in distribution and 20 in management and administration.

This led to a 22% rise in payroll costs to €2.83 million from €2.32 million.

Estrella Calicia (not to be mixed-up with Estrella Damm) brand-owner Hijos de Rivera took a 32% stake in the brewery 13 years ago.

At €122,297 remuneration for Carlow’s directors – Seamus O’Hara and Victor Treacy (Co-Founders) as well as Kay O’Hara, Jorge Montero Escuder and Ingacio Rivera Quintana – was slightly up on the previous year.

Carlow Brewing also opened the Urban Brewing outlet in Dublin’s CHQ building in 2017 in addition to which Kay and Seamus also own the Brewery Corner pub in Kilkenny.