Pat Rigney new Chair of Drinks Ireland|Spirits

The Founder and Managing Director of The Shed Distillery in County Leitrim which makes Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Pat Rigney, has been appointed the new Chair of Drinks Ireland|Spirits, the representative body responsible for promoting the interests of the Irish spirits industry. 

 

 

Previously Vice-Chair, he takes over from Aoife Clarke, Senior Director of International Public Affairs at Beam Suntory.

Bryan Fallon, Director of TJ Carolan’s, has been appointed the new Vice-Chair.

Drinks Ireland|Spirits was established in 1997 and acts as a voice among national and EU policy makers for issues such as taxation, trade and the ongoing international protection of Ireland’s Geographic Indicators. Drinks Ireland|Spirits is part of Drinks Ireland, the representative organisation for alcoholic drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland in Ibec.

“Ireland’s spirits industry continues to go from strength-to-strength,” said Pat Rigney, “The value of spirits exports from Ireland increased by 10.2% between 2017 and 2018, from €916 million to over €1 billion. We also have a dynamic domestic spirits market, driven by the growing popularity of premium spirits products like Irish whiskey and gin.

“Looking forward, we want to continue to drive this growth, but there are also a number of imminent issues ahead, including tariffs and Brexit.”

The Shed Distillery recently won Bord Bia’s Marketing Award at the biennial Food and Drink Awards held in Dublin’s RDS.