Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has confirmed The Boatyard Distillery will invest almost £2m to modernise and expand production at its Enniskillen site, increasing annual capacity from around 300,000 bottles to more than 1.6 million.

The project will install state-of-the-art mashing, fermentation and distillation equipment, introduce greater automation, and deliver sustainability-focused upgrades, including a new bio-LPG steam heating system. The enhancements are designed to meet rising global demand and strengthen the company’s export performance.

Founded in 2016 by Fermanagh entrepreneur Joe McGirr, The Boatyard Distillery is Ireland's first B-Corp certified distillery. Operating from Tully Bay Marina on the shores of Lough Erne, it produces premium organic spirits such as gin and vodka and exports to a growing customer base across the US, Britain and Ireland.

"Demand for our products continues to increase across key international markets and we need to scale to keep up. This investment will give us the production capability we need to produce five times the amount of bottles annually, meaning we can meet demand while maintaining the quality and consistency our customers expect. Alongside increased capacity, it will support continued product innovation, including V-52, our new mid-strength spirit that is already helping drive the next phase of growth. It also perfectly positions us to maximise opportunities with major distribution partners while accelerating our expansion across Europe and North America," said Joe McGirr, founder and CEO of The Boatyard Distillery. Invest Northern Ireland has offered £510,000 towards the project through its Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII), with three new jobs to be created. The distillery has also benefited from Invest NI’s Access to Finance programme, receiving loan facilities managed by Whiterock Capital Partners and equity investment from Co-Fund NI, managed by Clarendon Fund Managers.

Ethna McNamee, Head of Regional Business for the Western region at Invest Northern Ireland, said: "This investment is an endorsement of The Boatyard Distillery’s ambition and the growing strength of Northern Ireland's food and drink sector. It has successfully established a premium brand with an impressive international footprint, and this project marks a major milestone in its growth journey. It also demonstrates the role AFII plays in helping businesses adopt innovative technologies and build the capabilities needed to improve productivity, enhance sustainability and strengthen competitiveness.

"Alongside our support for it to invest in state-of-the-art systems, our in-market teams are helping to strengthen its ability to compete in global markets. Our teams in Canada, the US and Japan are working closely with the team at The Boatyard Distillery to develop export opportunities through introductions to international buyers and participation in major trade exhibitions. We’re looking forward to seeing the business continue to go from strength to strength from its base at Tully Bay Marina.” added Ms McNamee.

"We have worked closely with Invest NI from the earliest days of the business, and its support has been instrumental in helping us grow our team, expand production and build a global brand from County Fermanagh. We are proud to continue investing in the business, while creating opportunities for our local community," said Mr McGirr.