New £10m Irish whiskey distillery gets green light
Planning approval has been granted for a new £10 million Limavady Irish Whiskey distillery in Magilligan, Co Derry.
The company, launched by experienced industry veteran Darryl McNally in 2021, has revived one of the oldest names in the Irish spirits industry.
Mr McNally, who spent 16 years at Bushmills, and later helped launch Dublin Liberties Distillery, has already secured a partnership with Vermont-based Whistlepig to distribute his Limavady Single Barrel Irish Whiskey in the United States.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council officially signed off on the farm diversification plans on May 2 2024, some 32 months after the Co Derry master distiller submitted his application.
The original Limavady Distillery operated in the area between 1750 until around 1915.
At its height, the distillery was producing 1.2 million litres of pure alcohol per annum.
Darryl McNally said the modern incarnation of the distillery will be capable of producing 3.5 million bottles of whiskey annually, with the aim of catering for global markets.
The brand’s logo, a leaping dog, is inspired from the Gaelic origin of Léim an Mhadaidh (leap of the dog).
Mr McNally said the dream of opening his own distillery has been seven years in the making.
“I’m delighted we have finally secured planning approval,” he said.
“It’s fantastic for Limavady Irish Whiskey but also I am very proud to bring back distilling to the area of Limavady and look forward to bringing some really good jobs to the area.”
The £10m investment is expected to create 13 jobs and support another 12 roles indirectly.
“This initiative will particularly benefit local farmers and foster the development of a high-value ecosystem, anticipated to generate tens of millions of pounds for the Causeway Coast and Glens region,” he added
