A West Cork whiskey manufacturer is facing the prospect of having to cancel plans for a large storage facility in a rural area about 7km from Kinsale after An Coimisiún Pleanála refused it retrospective permission for four bonded warehouses over concerns about what might happen in the event of a fire. The local authority had also permitted a change of use of an existing open steel tank to a firefighting retention tank for a period of three years as well as the construction of a fire pump building. An Coimisiún Pleanála rejected an inspector’s recommendation that retention permission should be granted for the bonded warehouses and firefighting system. However, Ms McGovern said it shared the concerns of the environment section of Cork County Council about the proposed remote unmanned whiskey storage facility. The council’s ruling had been appealed by a local resident, Helen O’Dowd, who claimed the storage facility posed a fire hazard, while articulated trucks visiting the site raised traffic safety issues.

Source: Irish Examiner January 04, 2026 14:34 UTC