Cork Gaeltacht Business Wins Top National SEAI Energy Award

9 White Deer Brewery is a microbrewery i mBaile Bhúirne in the Cork Gaeltacht dedicated to brewing and packaging high-quality beers for the Irish market. They are a small business taking real, measurable steps to decarbonise through smart investment, engineering-led innovation, and a culture of continuous improvement. Rather than relying on symbolic gestures or carbon offsets, they’ve implemented systems that tangibly reduce energy use, emissions, and waste.

They’ve installed solar PV, smart-enabled thermal and chilled water systems, and on-site nitrogen generation, all contributing to lower fossil fuel dependency and enhanced process efficiency. These aren’t isolated upgrades—they form an integrated energy strategy that they monitor, adapt, and continuously improve.

Dónal Ó Liatháin, Údarás na Gaeltachta Regional Manger, said: “We are very proud of this wonderful achievement by 9 White Deer. It clearly demonstrates that small businesses in the Gaeltacht can be at the forefront in the field of sustainability. It is an example of the innovation and commitment that can be seen among our clients.”

Beyond energy savings, the project has increased staff engagement, strengthened their operational resilience, and reinforced their brand’s commitment to sustainability. Their approach has created a more robust, future-ready brewery without compromising product quality or value. This project showcases how rural Irish SMEs can lead by example, not through greenwashing, but through pure dedication to people, process, and planet.