Distilling in counties Westmeath and Offaly is the subject of the Old Athlone Society’s January lecture which will be given by Michael Byrne of Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society. The lecture will take place on Tuesday January 20 in The Prince of Wales Hotel at 8pm, and will be fully illustrated.
The distilling industry was important to the Midland counties in the nineteenth century and this lecture will look at the development of the industry in the county and in particular the establishment of large distillery at Banagher in the 1870s and the progress of the sole surviving distillery in Offaly and that at nearby Kilbeggan in the post 1900 period.
Back in the 1780s there were over 1,200 distilleries in Ireland. However, over the period from 1780 to 1823 the number of distilleries fell to 40. At the time Clara had seven distilleries, possibly explained by the importance of the linen industry in that part of the county and at Ferbane. Later the campaign of Fr Mathew wrought havoc on the industry with coffee houses opening to replace sheebeens.
Today the distilling industry is recalled in great names such as Lockes and Tullamore Dew which are marketed around the world with both towns having heritage centres to commemorate the business and to draw tourists.
The industry is important to Ireland and this overview of the development of the business is timely in the context of the importance of home generated industrial development for the long term sustainable future of Ireland. The home-produced poteen is not forgotten either.
