Historic red brick building in Charleville changes hands

KERRY Dairy Ireland has announced that it is transferring ownership of the historic red brick building in Charleville to St Joseph’s Foundation.

The foundation is renowned for providing a comprehensive range of services for people with intellectual disabilities in the north Cork and south Limerick areas. It was co-founded in the late 1960s by the late Dr Martin O’Donnell, a GP in Charleville. It now provides services to over 1,300 children and 400 adults.

Kerry say they have been a supporter of St Joseph’s Foundation for decades, admiring the exceptional services and support they provide to the community.

Pat Murphy, CEO of Kerry Dairy Ireland, said: “We are immensely pleased to see St  Joseph’s Foundation, an organisation we hold in high regard, become the new custodians of the red brick building. Their dedication to enhancing the lives of individuals and families within our community is unparalleled, and we are confident that this new chapter will only amplify their remarkable work.”

Kerry say the landmark building in Charleville has been “part of Kerry’s commitment to innovation and community development”.

It was announced by Kerry in 2021 that a number of staff based there were being made redundant as Kerry Group “expanded and centralised its shared services, such as finance, human resources and regulatory staff, in teams primarily located in Mexico and Malaysia”.

The former Golden Vale headquarters has lain empty for over a year and a half. It was put up for sale at the end of 2023 with a guide price of €750,000.

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Michael Hegarty, CEO of St Joseph's Foundation, thanked Kerry Dairy Ireland (a division of Kerry Group).

"We extend our sincere gratitude to Kerry Dairy Ireland for their vital support in securing the red brick building in Charleville for St Joseph's Foundation. This partnership, grounded in our mutual commitment to rural Ireland, ensures that our joint efforts will benefit Charleville and the wider region for decades to come.

“This milestone in the history of the foundation allows us to advance a significant project that will enhance services for individuals with disabilities and their families,” said Mr Hegarty.

After the global multinational Kerry Group acquired Golden Vale at the turn of the century, the ‘red brick building’ became their business services centre.