The Irish Whiskey Association has announced a scholarship opportunity with Maynooth University today (Monday, January 13) on its brewing and distilling micro-credential.

The Irish Whiskey Association will sponsor one place on this micro-credential, which aims to equip learners with the necessary knowledge and instrumentation competencies to develop skills relevant to the alcoholic drinks industry.

The course was created in response to what the association described as "strong demand" for an analytical course to support the growing Irish craft brewing and whiskey industries.

The Irish Whiskey Association has also called on the incoming government to provide additional supports to the third-level institutions offering courses – both full- and part-time – in the sector.

This is to ensure the "positive continuation" of the brewing and distilling sector, at what the association said is a "pivotal time".

Director of the Irish Whiskey Association Eoin Ó Catháin said: “Recent reports on the value of the Irish drinks sector show that it now easily exceeds €2 billion euro, and there are now around 10,000 people directly employed in brewing and distilling in Ireland.

"There are now full time Bachelor courses in Brewing and Distilling offered in South-East Technical University (SETU) and Technological University Dublin (TUD), and a micro-credential in Maynooth University, but we need further support to promote these courses".

Founder of Walsh Whiskey, Bernard Walsh has been in the industry since 1999, and said he has witnessed "lack of talent".

Walsh Whiskey has been an active advocator encouraging students to consider a career in brewing and distilling with its Annual Walsh Whiskey Bursary, since 2017 at SETU.

The Irish Whiskey Association has welcomed the incoming Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to one of the sites of these courses to learn more about the sector and fulfil employment opportunities.

Professor Denise Rooney, from the Chemistry Department at Maynooth University said the new micro-credential course will run over a 12-week period comprising of online lectures, tutorials and virtual lab simulations.

It is open for new new entrants into the distilling industry or those wishing to gain more in-depth knowledge in the area.