IWS Bus: The Stills of Donegal (09 May 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

IWS Bustrip: The Stills of Donegal

9-10th of May, Donegal

Sláinte, members!

Following a fantastic response to our recent call for interest, the Irish Whiskey Society is delighted to officially announce our upcoming expedition to the rugged northwest. We are heading to the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht to explore a region that is beautifully blending centuries-old traditions with the cutting edge of modern Irish distilling.

This weekend away is designed for those who want to get "under the hood" of the industry, meet the people behind the spirit, and enjoy the incomparable hospitality of Donegal.

The Itinerary

Saturday, May 9th: The Revival

10:00 AM: Departure from Dublin via dedicated Society coach.
Afternoon: Our first stop is the historic Crolly Distillery. Located in a restored 1902 carpet factory, Crolly is reviving the tradition of "Donegal Whiskey" using direct-fired stills.
Evening: We will gather for a Society dinner at the legendary Leo’s Tavern—the world-renowned home of Clannad and Enya—for an evening of food, music, and, of course, a few choice drams.

Sunday, May 10th: The Spirit of the Cliffs

Morning: Following breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the picturesque town of Ardara.
Mid-day: A deep-dive visit to Sliabh Liag Distillers. We’ll explore their craftsmanship and hear about their mission to reclaim the "smoky" heritage of Donegal whiskey.
6:00 PM: Approximate arrival back in Dublin.

Accommodation & Booking Process

To provide the best flexibility for our members, accommodation is booked directly with the An Chúirt Hotel rather than through the Society website. We have secured a dedicated block of rooms for our group (Single, Double & Triple).

How to book your room: Please email the hotel directly at reservations.ac@gallengroup.com with the following details:

Subject Line: Quote "Irish Whiskey Society"

Details required: Your Name, Type of Room (Single/Double/Twin), Phone Number, and Email.

Payment: Provide full credit/debit card details. Note: American Express is not accepted.

Important Payment & Cancellation Policy:

Advance Payment: The hotel will take full payment at the time of booking to ensure a seamless check-in process for our group.

Cancellations: The deadline for a full refund is April 18th (3 weeks prior to arrival). Cancellations made after this date will be charged the full amount to the card on file.

Booking Information

Tickets are strictly limited to 48 places on the bus. Given the interest already shown, we expect this to sell out quickly.

Please Note:

This event is for IWS Members only.
Transport: A dedicated Society bus will be our home for the weekend, allowing us to travel in comfort and safety.
Society Trip Fee: €50 per person. This fee covers your seat on the bus and all scheduled distillery tour costs.
Payment is via Stripe. Please complete your booking within 15 minutes of starting the process to secure your place.
Ensure you have read our In-Person Event Terms & Conditions.

Join us as we head north for a weekend of Donegal spirits and great company!

IWS Dingle: An evening with the pour oul Creatur (15 May 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

An Evening with the poor oul Creatur

Join us in Dick Mack’s for a tasting and talk with whiskey writer Dr. Fionnán O’Connor and a preview glimpse of his new book project, Créatúr: Irish Whiskey Through The Histories of Its Tastes, (scheduled for publication in 2027). It has been ten years since O’Connor’s last book, A Glass Apart, and his last presentation to us here in Dingle and Irish whiskey has changed quite a lot in the meantime. A Glass Apart can be said to be the best book ever written about Irish whiskey.

On the night, Fionnán will walk us through a flight of rarities from the society archive highlighting classic tastes he loves in Irish whiskey and a range of cask pulls from experimental projects he has been undertaking with young distilleries in tandem with his book and its research. The night promises a long liquid look both back and forwards, to see where Irish distilling might be headed, with some cracking drams at every step.

Fionnan was one of the founding members of the Irish Whiskey Society and has worked very hard to proclaim to the world just how great Irish whiskey is and indeed, always has been. He is a legend in the whiskey community and a great friend to the society, especially here in the town. We really look forward to his return and what he has in store for us. He recently raided the society whiskey archive and has some amazing whiskey for us to taste.

Whiskeys Tasted:

Booking opens immediately. As there are only 30 places allocated to this tasting, members are strongly advised to book this event as soon as possible. Join the waiting list to be notified should there be any cancellations as we might be able to get more spots for the event. It is necessary to register and complete payment via Stripe (within 15 minutes) to secure your booking.

Event Booking Terms & Conditions: https://www.irishwhiskeysociety.com/IWS-In-Person-Events