Heineken Ireland is bringing back its Ahhh-cademy bar staff training programme for a third year, with sessions across Dublin, Cork and Galway throughout October. The expanded 2026 edition lifts company investment to almost €3 million and adds dedicated courses for managers and trainers, addressing skills gaps that opened up after the pandemic in Irish pubs.

Sessions take place at the RDS Grand Hall in Dublin from 5 to 7 October, the Heineken Ireland brewery in Cork from 12 to 14 October and Dexcom Stadium in Galway on 20 and 21 October. The programme offers hands-on training in the quality, consistency and service customers expect from a pub visit.

Heineken N.V., headquartered in Amsterdam and listed on Euronext Amsterdam, reported first-half 2026 net revenue of €14.8 billion and operating profit of €2.1 billion. Heineken Ireland, the group's Irish arm, operates a brewery in Cork and runs the programme as part of its on-trade support.

The structural driver is post-pandemic staffing pressure, with Heineken Ireland citing challenges around "recruitment, retention, staff turnover and training" that left newer bar team members with fewer chances to learn skills traditionally passed down behind the bar.

Jason Cox, commercial director at Heineken Ireland, said the company is proud to support publicans and their teams by "providing practical training, sharing expertise and investing in the future of the industry."

Michael O'Donovan, president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, described the programme as a fantastic initiative that demonstrates "the importance of investing in people" and helping staff build skills, knowledge and confidence.

The programme began in 2024 as a three-year initiative backed by €1 million, and the company added a further €1 million for year two, when it targeted almost 3,000 staff.

For the sector, the near-tripling of investment since 2024 confirms that drinks suppliers are becoming direct funders of hospitality skills, extending beyond bar-floor training into management capability.

Source: irishexaminer.com / globenewswire.com / drinksindustryireland.ie