At the heart of Glendalough Distillery’s award-winning spirits is the passionate story of Ciarán “Rowdy” Rooney. A former telecoms professional, Rooney reinvented his life after stepping away from corporate life and immersing himself in the art of distilling.
A Career Reimagined
Rooney spent nearly twenty years in the telecoms industry before a personal milestone reignited his path. With his mother’s illness prompting reflection, he moved from packing bottles and painting the nascent distillery to earning formal distilling credentials and eventually becoming Glendalough’s Head Distiller.
Precision Meets Passion
He brought his corporate attention to detail into distilling—whether it’s hand-selecting wood for whiskey casks or fine‑tuning gin botanicals, every batch must meet his exacting standards. “If something doesn’t meet our standards, it doesn’t go out the door,” Rooney explains.
Breaking Whiskey Myths
Rowdy is also keen to bust myths about whiskey. He rejects the notion that whiskey must be sipped neat or without dilution. Instead, he encourages drinkers to add drops of water or enjoy their whiskey on the rocks, exploring the evolving flavors as it changes.
Sustainable Innovation
Integral to Glendalough’s ethos is a deep respect for the land. For every oak felled for whiskey barrels, Rooney’s team plants seven more—a deliberate commitment to regeneration and long‑term sustainability.
Foraging as Philosophy
Distilling at Glendalough is a seasonally driven art form. The distillery works closely with Geraldine Kavanagh, their full‑time local forager, who sustainably harvests wild botanicals from the Wicklow hills. These ingredients—picked fresh—capture the character of each season and embody the idea of “terroir in a bottle.”
A Tribute in Gin: The Rose Gin Story
One of Glendalough’s most unique expressions, the Rose Gin, originated from a deeply personal gesture. Rowdy created a small batch using roses from his late mother’s garden for his brother’s wedding. The resulting gin was so well received that it was adopted as a permanent product—not merely “pink gin,” but a true rose-led gin meant to honor memory and flavour.
Crafting Whiskey with Irish Oak
Glendalough’s signature Pot Still whiskey is finished in native Irish oak barrels grown locally in Wicklow. While handling Irish oak can be technically challenging—it can be porous and less predictable—its slow growth and fine grain impart rich vanilla, spice, and chocolate notes unmatched by other woods.
A Spirit‑Lover’s Mission
If asked which spirit he prefers to work on, Rowdy says it’s whiskey—particularly their new cask‑strength Double Barrel edition. For newcomers, he suggests starting with a cocktail or Irish coffee before progressing to neat or diluted pours. “Whiskey is about the journey, and there’s no wrong way to enjoy it—just your way,” he says.
Glendalough’s Future
Rooney sees Glendalough as emblematic of Ireland’s growing craft spirit movement—where innovation, sustainability, and place-driven distilling come together to create globally recognized products. Through their use of fresh botanicals, rare cask finishes, and tireless attention to detail, the distillery continues to preserve tradition while boldly experimenting.
Looking ahead to 2025, new packaging has already debuted on their Double Barrel whiskey, and another limited edition release is planned for St. Patrick’s Day. For Rooney and his team, the journey is one of both honoring heritage and pushing boundaries—and creating spirits people connect with long after they’re gone.
