One of the most important dates in Merthyr, Cardiff  & the industrial revolution was the founding of the Dowlais Ironworks on Sept 19, 1759. News travelled fast, on hearing that the furnace workers were collapsing with the heat and urgently needing something to quench their thirst, water was out of the question as it caused cholera epidemics, Arthur Guinness saw his entrepreneurial chance, he signed the lease on his brewery in Dublin on Sept 22 1759, sent his beer over to Merthyr in boatloads, but caused riots when the Irish thought it too good to waste on the Welsh, keeping it all for themselves, resulting in Mackeson filling the void in Wales; this is why my gran mulled her Mackeson for her health and not Guinness.

Sept. 22 at 17h59 in Dublin start of global celebration of Arthur Guinness signing the lease to his brewery in Dublin Sept. 22 1759.