A new distillery, the first to be licensed in Northern Ireland by HM Customs and Excise in 130 years, hopes to create 15 new jobs in the Co Down village of Kircubbin.

Echlinville Distillery is investing £1.5 million to develop premium Irish Whiskey for markets outside Northern Ireland.

Invest NI has offered Echlinville Distillery, which was founded by its managing director Shane Braniff two years ago on his 18-acre Echlinville Estate near Kircubbin, more than £216,000 in financial support towards the cost of the project.

Mr Braniff also launched the Feckin whiskey brands in 2005 in the US and other international markets.

He said his decision to establish the new distillery was influenced by the growth in demand for Irish whiskey in the US.

“In addition to the existing Feckin whiskey brands, we have recently relaunched Dunville VR Irish Whiskey, once one of the best known brands until the closure of the distillery in Belfast that produced the spirit over 80 years ago. Our intention is also to develop a visitors’ centre with a whiskey museum and restaurant on the site and thereby contribute to tourism on the picturesque Ards Peninsula,” Mr Braniff added.