In a similar move to their Roseile super-distillery in Speyside, Diageo is to invest £500m a state-of-the-art mega  brewery In Ireland .

Scheduled to open in 2013, the Kilkenny and Dundalk breweries will be close with the loss of 250 jobs. The sites estimated at £400m will be sold for redevelopment.

Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo said: "I want to fully acknowledge the huge role and heritage of the Kilkenny and Dundalk breweries, which would cease operations once the new brewery is fully commissioned. I believe that the lessons and experience we draw from their valuable tradition and heritage can only help to enrich our new brewery." He continued, "Our ambition is to create a brewing hub, which will meet the highest standards of technology, efficiency and environmental management."

Of course closures  would never happen to  their inefficient old Scottish distilleries now, would it?