Whiskey distilling has returned to Carlow after 200 years with the opening of Walsh Whiskey Distillery in Royal Oak last Tuesday. Bernard and Rosemary Walsh will create 55 jobs with the opening of the €25m distillery.

“The announcement is another sign that the Irish whiskey industry is moving confidently towards double-digit export growth by 2020,” said Miriam Mooney, head of the Irish Whiskey Association.

Bord Bia recently said that the best performing category in terms of exports growth was the beverage sector, largely driven by sustained growth in exports of Irish whiskey, which recorded export growth of 18%. The Irish whiskey industry currently exports to 77 countries.

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