GUINNESS Ireland is taking one floor of exhibition space away from visual art at the Guinness Hop Store. This news couldn't come at a worse time, when the gallery finally has a really worthwhile photographic show: Alan O'Connor's Reminder - Famine Sites Of Ireland.

Pat Barry, Guinness's Director Of Corporate Affairs explains: "We have two vacant floors which we have used for exhibitions from time to time. Because of the numbers coming through the Guinness Exhibition, we felt our only option was to expand the exhibition onto one of the vacant floors. The top floor will remain as it is at present." As an exhibition space? "As an open space which can be used for exhibitions or whatever."

With the thousands of pounds the company shells out in corporate sponsorship, it is a shame that it was never prepared to bite the bullet and put in the structures which would have put exciting art into this beautiful space, rather than just processing more tourists who will buy key-rings and sweatshirts. The tip-off to this desk came from the Artists' Association of Ireland, who are also bewailing the closing of the Irish Life Exhibition Centre - the space being taken over by the National Lottery.