Ireland’s Only Vinyl Factory Has Officially Opened In Kildare
Ireland’s Only Vinyl Factory Has Officially Opened In Kildare
Text: Rachel Hannon
A fresh spin on an old love. The needle drops on Irish soil launching Ireland’s only vinyl factory Anthem Vinyl in Clane, County Kildare.
A brand-new vinyl pressing plant has opened in Clane, County Kildare, marking a major milestone for Ireland’s music industry as vinyl sales continue to grow. Anthem Vinyl is now the country’s only functioning vinyl pressing plant, filling the gap left by the closure of Dublin Vinyl in 2023. There are two machines already in operation at the factory with plans to expand. The plants arrival coincides with Ireland’s consistent rise in sales for vinyl; nearly 400,000 units in 2024 which is a steady climb from just over 218,000 five years ago.
This is a huge win for both Irish artists and labels. Singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke is first in line, releasing a special edition of his album Since Kyabram. This will be the plant’s debut record with a QR-linked Smart Vinyl format.
Saturday 12 April marked Record Store Day, which is a semi-annual celebration of independently owned record stores, held on the third Saturday of every April and Black Friday in November.
With no signs of vinyl’s popularity slowing, the industry now has a homegrown hub to meet the demand that already exists. For artists and fans alike, it’s a clear sign that the ritual of vinyl records are firmly back on Irish soil.
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