THERE was a tourism boost for the Crolly area this week with the announcement that a new whiskey distillery and visitors’ centre will open at Coillín Darach. Údarás na Gaeltachta has provided financial support for the project to the tune of €121,000 and will involve the refurbishment of the old Crolly doll factory. 

Letterkenny-based businessmen Seosamh Ó Duibheannaigh, Conor McMenamin and Kieran Davis are the promoters behind the venture which represents a total investment of over €271,000.

 

Speaking to the Donegal News Mr Ó Duibheannaigh said the plans have been in the pipeline since 2016 when they began researching the market and identified the site.  They are hoping to have the distillery commissioned in 2019 which will be called Drioglann Thír Chonaill Teo. It will take three years and a day to produce the whiskey as any Irish whiskey has to be stored for three years.  It is estimated that between 2022 to 2023 the first whiskey will be produced.

 

They hope to produce over 15,000 litres of alcohol annually for the first five years and their focus will be on the tourist industry and the international whiskey market. Mr Ó Duibheannaigh, founder of Cólaiste na Rosann in Letterkenny, said for him Crolly was the perfect location. 

 

“I know the building, it is an iconic building, with architectural merit and it is in a fabulous location,” he said. 

Mr Ó Duibheannaigh is from the area and he joked that there was a long line of poitin makers in the family. 

 

 

In preparation for starting the business the partners have travelled to Middeltown in Cork for training courses as well as over to Scotland, acorss Europe and South Africa. Mr Ó Duibheannaigh said nothing happens quickly with whiskey production and there will be a long lead in to the creation of jobs.  Initally the distillery will create 12 jobs and the project will enter a second phase in 2027 which will see an increased level of investment in terms of equipment. 

 

The factory will be renovated over the next year with the distillery commissioned after that. The planned visitors’ centre will then come into operation following this. From their research Mr Ó Duibheannaigh said a visitors’ centre in a remote distillery in Scotland attracts between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors per year which is a target they are hoping to achieve.  He said they are hoping to piggy back on tourists who visit Glenveagh and attract them over to Crolly. 

 

Údarás na Gaeltachta Chief Executive, Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh commented: “We are very happy to be able to support this project and to have jobs back in the famous Croithlí factory again. This development will be a valuable asset for the tourism product and experience in the Donegal Gaeltacht.”

 

Also welcoming the announcement Minister for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD (FG) said the investment will breathe new life back into an old landmark in west Donegal. 

 

“The Irish whiskey industry aims to produce 24 million cases a year and tourism chiefs are targeting 1.9 million people to visit distilleries by 2025. With the support of Údarás and the Government Donegal is going to capitalise on this huge local and international success story.”

 

Minister McHugh said the partners deserve huge credit for the foresight they’ve shown to drive this development and help create new and diverse employment in the area.

 

The venutre was also welcomed by Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher and Councillor John Seamus O’Ferraigh of Sinn Féin.