A large collection of employment records which date from between 1880 to 1960 are held at
The Guinness Archives . Although incomplete, these records provide an insight into employment conditions; Guinness was renowned for the benevolent treatment of its workforce, which numbered 5000 at its peak. If you have a query about an ancestor who worked at the Brewery send an enquiry to the Archivist (the address is in the link). Details such as first names and surnames, dates of birth, and any known addresses are particularly useful.
Edward Cecil Guinness (1847 - 1927) purchased Farmleigh, a small Georgian house (built in the 18th century) which is situated on extensive private gardens of 31 hectares (78 acres) to the north-west of the Phoenix Park, when he married his cousin Adelaide Maria Guinness in 1873. Edward was the grandson of Arthur Guinness. He became the first Earl of Iveagh in 1891. Adelaide died on the 16th February, 1916.
At the start of
the Great War in 1914, Guinness had approximately 3,500 on the payrole. 645 of these enlisted. However, those who enlisted were given the added incentive of getting their jobs back if they managed to survive the war. 370 Guinness employees who survived returned to their employment but 103 employees lost their lives in the war
At least two of the employees of Guinness were killed in incidents during the Easter Rising in 1916. William John Rice, a night clerk in the Guinness brewery,was shot on Friday 28th April and a Mr Dockeray, also a Guinness worker, was shot around the same time.
(Source: United Irelander website). In an article
The Horse in the Brewing Industry there's a reference to Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness (1798-1868) who related the story of a horse who, while driving the brewing plant at Guinness's Brewery, dropped dead during the mash. Sir Benjamin's point was that unlike steam engines, horses could be replaced quickly.
The remaining two
Guiness boats the Miranda and the Lady Patricia, named after wives of members of the Guinness family, were withdrawn from service in 1993. Guinness had been shipping its product across the Irish Sea to Great Britain since 1810.
by Tim Magennis.
Guinness Brewery Tramways by Paul Ellison.
