Brothers bring Irish whiskey distilling back to Galway

Irish whiskey distillation has returned to Galway for the first time in more than 100 years thanks to Micil Distillery.

Micil Distillery is based in Salthill, in Galway City, and is operated by brothers Pádraic and Jimín Ó Griallais, who are sixth generation Connemara poitín distillers and direct descendants of Micil Mac Chearra, the family’s original distiller.

Now that the distillery has officially started distilling and filling barrels to make Irish whiskey, it brings the number of counties across Ireland with operational whiskey distilleries to 19.

Micil Distillery will also be releasing two independently bottled Irish whiskeys this summer.

William Lavelle, head of trade body Drinks Ireland | Irish Whiskey, welcomed the distillery’s whiskey production.

Lavelle said: “This is great news for the Irish whiskey industry and in particular for Galway. Up until the start of the 20^th century, Galway had a thriving whiskey distilling industry.

“Now, Micil Distillery will be the first Irish whiskey distilled in Galway since 1911. This will help put Galway back on the Irish whiskey map and create jobs for the local economy.”