Sligo Rovers can today announce the upcoming release of The Showgrounds – a new beer produced in conjunction with The White Hag Brewery that will generate funds for the Bit O’ Red.

The project will see €1 donated to Sligo Rovers from every pint purchased thanks to a unique agreement between the club, White Hag and publicans in County Sligo.

The beer is a traditional helles lager, similar in style to a modern lager.

A total of 13 pubs will sell The Showgrounds – named after the home of Sligo Rovers.

The White Hag is an award-winning craft brewery from Sligo and they believe the Bit O’ Red are brewing something special under Liam Buckley.

Based in Ballymote, The White Hag have grown considerably since launch five years ago and now employ 10 people in a rapidly expanding local business, exporting to eight markets from their South Sligo base.

The agreement between White Hag and publicans will see Rovers profit €1 from each pint. The cost of a pint is €4.70.

The Showgrounds beer was brewed and packaged specially in recent days for release this Friday in the following bars:

• Caheny’s
• Mooney’s
• O’Neill’s
• Foley’s
• Earley’s
• Connolly’s
• The Swagman 
• Lillie’s 
• The Crozon Inn 
• The Snug 
• The Dunes, Strandhill
• Owenmore Inn, Collooney
• Salley Gardens, Ballisodare

Sligo Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty said: “The club hope our supporters buy into this unique fundraising venture and support a product which we think you will thoroughly enjoy. It is something aimed at older fans of the club during the summer. The money generated will be put towards ground works.

“The White Hag are a popular local business who are very keen to maintain their connection with Sligo. Their business is a great strength for the community of Ballymote and indeed County Sligo.

“We’d like to thank White Hag as we build our new partnership and hope this is a huge success.”

Bob Coggins of The White Hag said: “As a pillar of the Sligo sporting and cultural community, the Bit O’ Red are an icon for us and we’re thrilled to be able to create a product that we can turn into a fundraising campaign for The Showgrounds.

“This initiative allows the wider Sligo community to show their support the club by sampling our collaboration, and seeing some of their hard earned cash going straight to the Rovers development fund.

“The lager is a very accessible style that any beer drinker will appreciate. We’re producing the beer at a cost to allow for the maximum fundraising possible for a very worthwhile cause that’s brilliant for Sligo. We hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy it.”