Rugby star invests in Irish craft distillers

Former Irish rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll has invested in Glendalough Distillery, taking a stake in the fledgling Irish spirits company.

Brian O’Driscoll, who retired from rugby last season, has invested in the fledgling distillers (Photo: Creative Commons)

O’Driscoll, who retired after Ireland won the RBS 6 Nations championship last season, will become part owner of the Co. Wicklow-based distiller, reports FFT.ie.

The small company has recently had a successful launch overseas in America and Australia, tapping into the Irish emigre market with their attractive artisan brand.

The company, founded in 2011, offers poitín – an Irish spirit with an illicit past which is made from potatoes. It is reportedly one of the first spirits to be distilled in the world.

They are also lining up to release their own whiskey and gin in the coming weeks.

“We are delighted to be launching both our single malt whiskey and Ireland’s first seasonal gin,” said Barry Gallagher, MD of Glendalough, said to the Irish Times recently.

Glendalough will launch its first whiskey, a seven year-old single malt, later this month, with its gin aiming to be launched in the autumn.

O’Driscoll has been credited throughout his 12-year career as being the best rugby player in the world, and retired at the end of the season as the most capped international player of all time with 141 caps.