A life in whiskey
Join us for a special evening with John Teeling and some great cask samples from GND. John is a true legend in the world of Irish whiskey.
Opening event: A life in whiskey with
John Teeling
Navan Whiskey Festival is delighted to open this year’s programme with a very special guest — the legendary John Teeling, one of the most influential figures in Irish whiskey. Join us on Thursday, 16th October at 6.00pm in P. Clarke’s Bar, Navan for an evening of stories, insights, and tasting.
A Pioneer of Irish Whiskey
John Teeling is widely recognised as a pioneer who helped spark the modern revival of Irish whiskey. In the 1980s, he founded Cooley Distillery, breaking the Irish Distillers’ monopoly and reintroducing independent whiskey production to Ireland. Under his leadership, distinctive brands such as Kilbeggan and Connemara were born.
The great northern distillery
Following the sale of Cooley to Beam Suntory in 2012, John established the Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, transforming the former Harp Brewery into one of the largest distilling operations in the country. Today, it plays a vital role in Ireland’s whiskey infrastructure, supplying bulk spirit, private-label whiskey, and contract distilling services for many emerging brands.
During this 90-minute session, John will share his remarkable journey in whiskey, followed by an open Q&A. Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy specially selected samples from the Great Northern warehouses.
🎟️ Tickets: €15 on sale now!
Don’t miss this chance to hear first-hand from a true trailblazer of Irish whiskey.