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Our History

Our History

We have a proud brewing history spanning over 160 years. Discover some of our key highlights.

1856

1856

A family business from the start, it all began in 1856 when James J. Murphy and his brothers sold their first business, the Midleton Distillery, to found the Lady’s Well brewery on Leitrim Street, Cork City.

1889

1889

A true entrepreneur, James J. guided our brewery to success for its first forty years, overseeing the building of the New Malt house in 1889 where we are still headquartered today.

1906

1906

Brewery celebrates its Golden Jubilee by taking all of the workers and their families on an excursion to Killarney.

1978

1978

In 1978, Murphy’s Brewery launched Heineken® into the Irish market with immediate success, gaining 9% share of the draught lager market in its first year.

1983

1983

Murphy’s Brewery becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of HEINEKEN N.V.

1989

1989

In 1989 Heineken® became the Number 1 lager in Ireland, a position we still hold & cherish to this day.

2006

2006

150th celebration of Murphy’s Brewery.

2008

2008

Another great Cork brewing dynasty Beamish & Crawford was acquired by HEINEKEN giving us another 216 years of brewing expertise.

2016

2016

160th celebration of Lady's well Brewery. The company continues to innovate and lead the way in the Irish market with our ever growing drinks portfolio.


Did you know?

Discover even more about James J. Murphy and our history in our mini series “Diarmuid’s Did You Know?”
Watch local Cork historian, Diarmuid O’ Drisceoil take you on a journey of all things Murphy’s…

The Golden Jubilee

Murphy's Stables

James J. Murphy & Banking

Murphy's Advertising

The Malt House

James J. Murphy and The GAA

James J. Murphy and Charity

Murphy's Green Bottles

Eugen Sandow

Brewing Craft

The Black Eagle Of The North