From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, will today (Friday, 8 October) officially open the Shed Distillery Experience, a €3.5m investment by the makers of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. He will also turn the sod on a new Digital Gaming Hub at Strand Campus in Strandhill, Co. Sligo.
The Shed Distillery Experience, in Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim is home to Gunpowder Gin and is expected to attract 30,000 visitors by 2023. The Distillery Experience announced today that it would be creating a further 25 new jobs this year, bringing the total employed in the visitor centre and Jackalope Café to 75.
Opening the Distillery Experience today the Tánaiste said:
"It’s great to be able to get out and about around the country and meet and engage with people again. I know the past 18 months have been exceptionally challenging for Irish businesses. I really admire the courage and vision of anyone who has been brave enough to open a new business during the pandemic. I know they’ll do well.
"The Shed Distillery Experience is a testament to the hard work and talent of Pat and Denise and their team who have worked so hard to build this Experience. The €3.5m investment is expected to attract 30,000 visitors to Drumshanbo every year by 2023. Today’s announcement that 25 additional new jobs will be created, is further good news that the future is bright for Drumshanbo. Congratulations to all the team."
After opening the Distillery Experience, the Tánaiste will travel to Co. Sligo, where he will turn the sod on the new €1.9m government funded Digital Gaming Hub at Strand Campus in Strandhill.
The new c1,200m2 building will be constructed adjacent to the existing Strand Campus Enterprise Hub and will provide a flexible workspace for companies working in the digital gaming sector. Ambitious targets are in place which will see the creation of 100 new jobs on site in 20 companies and a further 40 companies supported through the establishment of a digital games cluster in the North West, created around Strand Campus.
Turning the sod, the Tánaiste said:
"Today is an important day for Sligo which will further enhance the North West’s reputation as a location of choice for technology companies across the globe. This Digital Gaming Hub will provide workspace, mentoring and access to various programmes to help entrepreneurs start and scale innovative tech businesses.
"The Digital Gaming sector employs around 2,000 people in Ireland but with the overall industry worldwide worth an estimated $300bn, there is huge potential for growth. The Hub’s proximity to IT Sligo is really welcome too, I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration. I look forward to coming back when the Hub opens its doors."
Aidan McKenna, Regional Director, North East & North West, Enterprise Ireland said:
"Supporting innovative regional start-ups is a huge focus for Enterprise Ireland and the Regional Enterprise Development Fund is an effective mechanism of supporting regional development. We were delighted to support the development of the Strandhill Digital Gaming Hub as a state-of the-art technology centre here in Sligo from which gaming businesses can operate, develop and thrive. We look forward to working with the entrepreneurs that will nurture and develop their business ideas as they come through this new collaboration hub at Strand Campus."
Vincent Nally, Chairperson of the Sligo County Enterprise Fund, said:
"Ireland has a huge reputation internationally in the ICT and digital fields and we at Strand Campus want to contribute to making the North West of Ireland a key player with international recognition and capability within the digital games industry. This investment through Enterprise Ireland is a vote of confidence not only in Strand Campus, but in the government’s decision to designate Sligo as a Regional Growth Centre under Project 2040."
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) plays a key role in implementing the government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The department has lead responsibility for Irish policy on global trade and inward investment and a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.
For further information please contact Press Office, D/Enterprise, Trade and Employment, press.office@enterprise.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200.