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Irish Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Year of change' at Rye River Brewing sees losses rise despite jump in sales
Rye River Brewing , the Kildare -based craft brewer, has reported a more than €521,000 after-tax loss for 2024 as commercial and one-off project costs ate into rising gross profits at the Celbridge -headquartered company. The brewer moved into contract brewing this year with a deal to produce the popular Galway Hooker brand of beers. In spite of the losses, chief executive and founder Tom Cronin described it as a strong period for the business amid a decline in the wider craft beer market and what he described as a 'big year of change' for Rye River. Speaking to The Irish Times this week, Mr Cronin said the brewery moved away from its 24-hour, seven-day production cycle last year after it commissioned and installed a new brewhouse. READ MORE He said Rye River, which rebranded from McGargles in 2021, is now home to the fourth-largest brewhouse in Ireland and the largest among independent brewers. 'We never stopped production throughout the installation and commissioning programme, which was a feat in its own right,' he said. 'We also took occupancy of a new 16,000sq ft warehouse on site, which again was constructed without any downtime to operations in 2024.' [ Rye River Brewing Company secures €3.3m from sale of HQ facility Opens in new window ] New accounts filed by DP Financial, the trading company behind the brewery, reveal that turnover expanded by 7 per cent in the year to more than €9.1 million, which Mr Cronin said was driven by 'strong domestic and export performance'. He said Rye River grew its sales volumes by 17.7 per cent as the company 'pivots and adapts to the industry challenges'. After-tax losses widened from €458,536 to slightly more than €521,000 as distribution costs and administrative expenses jumped. Administrative costs – which jumped by about 7 per cent to €1.85 million, largely due to one-off project costs associated with the new brewhouse – bit into the brewery's €1.97 million gross profit, leaving it with an operating loss of €297,663. Rye River's distribution costs jumped by almost 20 per cent to more than €440,000 in 2024, which Mr Cronin said related to an increase in headcount and the impact of the increase in the minimum wage. The company employed 66 people last year, an increase of four from 2023. The filings also reveal that it extended its €2.75 million loan agreement with Elm Corporate Credit in December. Elm, a credit vehicle established in 2018 to lend to Irish SMEs, is a subsidiary of Dublin-based private credit firm DunPort Capital , which controls the majority of Rye River's shares, according to its most recent annual return. Looking ahead, Mr Cronin said RY River has traded well in the first half of the year but 'will need to adapt further' in the second half, due to the likely impact of US president Donald Trump 's tariff agenda. He said rising non-domestic water charges will also impact costs. Earlier this year, Rye River announced that it would take over the production of the Galway Hooker beer range from Connacht Group on a contract basis as consolidation in the craft beer industry continues apace.
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Irish Times
Caravan occupants in Celbridge carpark face possible contempt over refusal to leave
Three caravans that have been parked in a car park in Celbridge, Co Kildare , since October must be removed by this Thursday, July 10th, the High Court has ordered. If they fail to do so, the occupants could face applications by the car park owners to have them jailed for contempt, the court heard. Last week, Mr Justice Brian Cregan gave 'persons unknown' in occupation of the car park in the Abbey Car Park, Clane Road until Tuesday, July 8th, to vacate the property. It is owned by the St John of God Trust (Ireland), which uses it for car parking for its community-based services and tea rooms there and it also licenses it to Kildare County Council for use as a public car park. Since the caravans arrived, the court has been told, there has been disruption to the trust's services and intimidation and aggression towards patients and staff. There has also been an accumulation of waste throughout the car park. Early efforts by the county council to service notices directing the occupants to vacate the property have not been successful. Last Wednesday, following a one-side only represented application by the trust seeking the removal of the caravans and occupants, Mr Justice Cregan granted an interim order requiring that the car park be vacated by 1pm on Tuesday, July 8th. He said the occupants could turn up in court on Tuesday to make their case about the order if they wished. When the case returned, Conor Sheehan BL, for the trust, said there had been no appearance by the occupants and the caravans were still there. He asked the court to make its order stay in place pending full hearing of the case. Mr Justice Cregan was satisfied to do so and said if the caravans are not gone by Thursday at 1pm, the trust could take whatever steps it chooses to enforce the order including asking the court to issue an attachment and committal order which can lead to the imprisonment of the occupants for contempt.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Caravan occupants face possible contempt over refusal to leave car park
Three caravans that have been parked in a car park in Celbridge, Co Kildare, since October must be removed by this Thursday, the High Court has ordered. If they fail to do so, the occupants could face applications by the car park owners to have them jailed for contempt, the court heard. Advertisement Last week, Mr Justice Brian Cregan gave "persons unknown" in occupation of the car park in the Abbey Car Park, Clane Road, until Tuesday, July 8th, to vacate the property. It is owned by the St John of God Trust (Ireland) which uses it for car parking for its community based services and tea rooms there and it also licenses it to Kildare County Council for use as a public car park. Since the caravans arrived, the court has been told, there has been disruption to the trust's services and intimidation and aggression towards patients and staff. There has also been an accumulation of waste throughout the car park. Early efforts by the county council to service notices directing the occupants to vacate the property have not been successful. Advertisement Last Wednesday, following a one-side only represented application by the trust seeking the removal of the caravans and occupants, Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted an interim order requiring that the car be vacated by 1pm on Tuesday, July 8th. Ireland Woman beaten with golf club by partner in 'savage'... Read More He said the occupants could turn up in court on Tuesday to make their case about the order if they wished. When the case returned, Conor Sheehan BL, for the trust, said there had been no appearance by the occupants and the caravans were still there. He asked the court to make its order stay in place pending full hearing of the case. Mr Justice Cregan was satisfied to do so and said if the caravans are not gone by Thursday at 1pm, the trust could take whatever steps it chooses to enforce the order including asking the court to issue an attachment and committal order which can lead to the imprisonment of the occupants for contempt.
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Irish Times
Woman abducted after petrol bomb threat over missing dog, court hears
A woman was 'dragged' into a car and driven around for 90 minutes after alleged threats to petrol bomb her Co Kildare home in a row over a missing dog, a court heard. Samantha Leeson (34), of Priory Square, St Raphael's Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare, and 36-year-old Richard O'Leary, of Bawnlea Green, Tallaght, Co Dublin, were charged with burglary and threatening to damage the woman's door and windows in Castletown, Celbridge. They were refused bail when they appeared separately before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court on Wednesday. Det Garda Conrad Casey objected to their bail. READ MORE He alleged that at 10.10pm on June 23rd, Mr O'Leary arrived at the woman's home with others in a Volkswagen Jetta. Ms Leeson, a mother of two, was allegedly driving the car. The contested bail hearings were told that gardaí obtained CCTV footage with audio from a neighbouring premises showing the car arriving at the property. Det Garda Casey said Ms Leeson got out of the car. He told the court that a panel on the front door was then broken. The detective claimed Ms Leeson was roaring and shouting: 'Get out here now or there's petrol bombs going through the doors, and get out here now before I break every other window.' It was claimed that Ms Leeson then gained entry to the house, followed by Mr O'Leary and another unnamed man. The alleged victim gave a statement that they came in 'against her will', the judge was told. The court heard the CCTV showed Ms Leeson 'dragging the woman out of her house by her clothing, she is begging the female to stop, but she doesn't, and she is forced into the Volkswagen Jetta that is parked in the driveway, forced into the back seat'. The footage was not played during the hearing. The court was told that two males, including Mr O'Leary, sat on either side of the woman. About an hour and a half later, gardaí stopped the Volkswagen at Fortunestown Lane in Tallaght and found the woman still in the car, it was claimed. The judge noted the alleged injured party was not in court, and the detective could not say why. He said his objection to bail was based on concerns about witness intimidation and that the pair would not appear in court. Solicitor Leonard Leader, defending, told the court Ms Leeson had been friends with the complainant, but the relationship deteriorated. He told the court his client was a dog-lover who had asked the complainant to look after her dog. Despite requests, information on the pet's whereabouts was not forthcoming. 'She thought that the dog had been entered into dog fights,' Mr Leonard said. The detective agreed that was the alleged background. Pleading for bail with conditions, the solicitor said Ms Leeson had two young children, and 'the prospect of prison terrifies her'. He argued that there was insufficient evidence to predict she would fail to turn to court. Judge McHugh stressed the accused had the presumption of innocence, but said the charges were very serious. Noting the Garda evidence and defence submissions, he denied bail in each case and remanded the two in custody. Mr O'Leary will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday, while unemployed Ms Leeson will face her next hearing at Blanchardstown District Court via video link on July 1st. They have yet to indicate pleas. The charges are under the Theft and Fraud and Criminal Damage Act, which carry 14- and 10-year sentences, respectively. Legal aid was granted.
BreakingNews.ie
25-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man and woman (30s) charged in relation to alleged false imprisonment of woman
A man and a woman, both aged in their 30s, have been charged in relation to the alleged false imprisonment of a woman in Co Kildare. The alleged incident of false imprisonment of a woman occurred in Castletown, Celbridge, Co Kildare on Monday. Advertisement Both the man and woman are due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court No 1 this morning at 10.30am. Investigations are ongoing, gardaí said.
