Cork family marks almost 170 years at Heineken's Lady’s Well Brewery

There’s been a Hosford working in the Lady’s Well Brewery since it opened in 1856 and this week two members of the family celebrated a combined total of 80 years working in the Leitrim Street facility where Heineken and Murphy's Stout are brewed.

Cousins Barry and Donie Hosford have been working in the Lady’s Well brewery for 40 years each, maintaining an unbroken family tradition in brewing in Cork that goes back almost 170 years. They celebrated their proud family record this week with a couple of pints of stout in advance of an open day at the Brewery on Saturday.

Donie joined the brewery in January 1984 while Barry took up a Summer job there in May of that year. They are the fourth generation of the Hosford family to work in the brewery. 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 Hosford, who is now a production supervisor having started off switching filling tubes from the old aluminium to the new stainless steel kegs said it was incredible that he had first stepped foot in Leitrim Street forty years ago. He also worked in the lab before taking on other roles such as utilities operator and racking operator before taking up his current role.

“I feel proud to now be part of a business that my father, grandfather and great grandfather all worked in,” said Barry. 

“It’s a privilege to be part of this brewery’s history and to continue the strong family legacy.” 

His cousin Donie recalled how he used to go to the brewery with his father when he saw horses delivering the kegs. “Now, we have a fully automated Brewhouse, electric fortlifts and a revamped office building,” he said. 

“It’s amazing to think of the all the stories and the characters that have come through this building during that time.” 

The Lady’s Well Brewery was opened in Cork in 1856 by James J. Murphy and his brothers after they sold their first business, the Midleton Distillery. Since then the Leitrim Street Brewery now owned by Heineken has become home to some of Ireland’s most popular brews including Murphy’s Stout, Beamish Stout, Heineken, Heineken 0.0, Birra Moretti, Coors and Orchard Thieves.

According to the Supply Director for Heineken Ireland, Chuvasen Govender, the Hosford family’s legacy "is a living embodiment of the strong community and tradition" that define the brewery and said the company was ‘hugely proud of its long history’ in the city.

“We are delighted to open the doors of Lady’s Well Brewery to the public for Cork Heritage Open Day, “ said Mr Govender. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to see first hand our rich history and brewing heritage that has been part of Cork city for 168 years.” 

The Leitrim Street brewery will open its doors to the public on Saturday, August 17, when guided tours around the malt house and kiln will take place. All tickets for the free event have been booked.