Cousins Barry and Donie Hosford celebrate 80 years’ combined brewing experience between them this year at HEINEKEN Ireland’s Lady’s Well Brewery in Cork City.
The cousins continue an unbroken family history of working at the brewery, with the first member of the Hosford family joining in 1856 when it first opened.
Both cousins celebrate their respective fortieth anniversary with brewer this year. HEINEKEN Ireland is marking the double milestone as it prepares to celebrate its history on Leeside during Cork Heritage Open Day.
The Leitrim St brewery will open its doors to the public on Saturday, August 17 and will include guided tours around the malt house and the kiln. All tickets for the free event have been fully booked.
Donie joined the brewery in January 1984, with Barry joining a few months afterwards in May of that year. They are the fourth generation of Hosfords to work in Lady’s Well Brewery on Leitrim Street where they continue a family legacy of brewing. At one point in the 1960s, the brewery had five Hosford brothers working there, including both Barry and Donie’s fathers and three of their uncles.
Barry joined the brewery when he picked up a summer job in 1984. At the time, the brewery was switching from aluminium kegs to stainless steel kegs, and Barry’s job was to switch the filling tubes from the old kegs to the new ones. Barry decided to stay with the brewery, initially working in the lab before taking on roles as a utilities operator and then as a racking operator. Barry is now a production supervisor in the brewery.
Commenting on the milestone, Barry Hosford said:
“It’s incredible to think that 40 years ago I first stepped foot in Leitrim Street. What was originally a summer job for me, became a lifelong career and passion. I feel proud to now be part of a business that my father, grandfather and great grandfather all worked in. It’s a privilege to be part of this brewery’s history and to continue the strong family legacy.”
Donie Hosford reflected on his time at the famous brewery, commenting:
“I remember coming here with my dad and seeing horses deliver the kegs. Now, we have a fully automated Brewhouse, electric fortlifts and a revamped office building. It’s amazing to think of the all the stories and the characters that have come through this building during that time.”
A family business from the start, the Lady’s Well Brewery story began 1856, when James J. Murphy and his brothers sold their first business, the Midleton Distillery, to found the brewery on Leitrim Street, in Cork city.
With 168 years of brewing heritage in Cork, HEINEKEN Ireland’s Leitrim Street Brewery has become home to some of Ireland’s favourite lager, stout and cider brands. The famous brewery launched HEINEKEN into the Irish market in 1978, and it has since become Ireland’s leading lager brand.
HEINEKEN Ireland’s Supply Chain Director, Chuvasen Govender said the company was hugely proud of its long history in Cork, “We are delighted to open the doors of Lady’s Well Brewery to the public for Cork Heritage Open Day. It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to see firsthand our rich history and brewing heritage that has been part of Cork city for 168 years. The Hosford family’s legacy is a living embodiment of the strong community and tradition that defines our brewery. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with them and to share our story with visitors.”
