Business Briefs Kelly’s Cider for the U.S.

By Harry Keaney

Indian River Brewery, of Melbourne, Fla., and American Beerworks Inc., of Elmhurst, Chicago, have formed a joint venture with Celtic Drinks (Ireland) Ltd., to bottle Kelly’s Traditional Irish Hard cider for the U.S. market.

Kelly’s is a product of Celtic Drinks (Ireland) Ltd., a company founded by Brendan Daly, John Cronin and Keith Knight.

Both Daly and Cronin worked in the U.S. They noticed the growing popularity of hard cider in the U.S. and saw the opportunity for a light dry cider made in the traditional Irish way.

Cronin, a bar owner from Listowel, Co. Kerry, and Daly, a cider maker for a large Irish drinks company, combined their skills and formed their company to target the U.S. market.

Conference center row

There is still no sign of a resolution to an ongoing row over the development of a national conference center in Dublin. The developers of the proposed center, the Spencer Dock Development Company, have said the project will not proceed unless a planning row with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority is resolved quickly.

Hearty boost

More than half the world’s supply of a heart attack drug will soon be made in Shannon, according to the Limerick Leader newspaper. Industrial chemists SIFA is to build a £10 million factory to make the prescription drug, known as isosorbide 5-mononitrate, or 5-ISM. Building of the factory will start later this month.Investing in Ireland

In recent years, it has become easier, due to changes in Irish tax laws, for non residents of Ireland to invest in stocks and bonds in Ireland. Ireland’s investment environment for non-residents is very friendly due to a variety of tax advantaged investments.

Up to now, one difficulty for U.S. residents was that investing could not be carried out in dollars. This has now changed. Regular U.S. dollar plans are now available which suit both lump sum investing and regular systematic investing. For information, call Patrick Duffy, (212) 755-7736