Killarney: Distillery Profile
Updated: 10 hours ago
Killarney Distillery was part of Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company, a large distillery, brewery and visitor centre built on the N22 outside Killarney in County Kerry, on the Ring of Kerry. Recent reports say it has closed, so this profile is a record of what was reported.
In this guide
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Killarney at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Killarney |
Country and region | County Kerry, Ireland |
Owner / background | Killarney distillery project, closure reported in original guide |
Historical context | Earlier sourced branded Irish whiskey associated with the distillery project |
Whisky identity | Earlier sourced branded Irish whiskey associated with the distillery project |
Visitor information | Check the official operator's website for currently available tours and visitor access. |
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What was built
A March 2022 visit report on the Hip Cask blog describes a 62,000 square foot building designed by Italian architect Davide Mosca. It featured three copper pot stills made by Frilla, three column stills, six fermentation tanks and a Meura mash filter. The brewery occupied the opposite wing. There was also a restaurant, rooftop bar and event rooms.
Who was behind it
The parent company, Killarney Brewing and Distilling, was founded in 2013 by Killarney men Tim O'Donoghue and Paul Sheahan with Chicago based partner Liam Healy, according to Hip Cask.
The head distiller named in 2022 was Kerr Petri, previously of Midleton, and the head gin distiller was Maeve Kelleher.
The company offered a Gin Lab and sold full casks of new whiskey through its Cornerstone Cask Society, stored on site in American oak ex-bourbon casks.
Whiskey
In early 2022 the distillery was selling Killarney Whiskey 1092, a sourced whiskey blended to its specification, while its own stills were due to start that summer.
Closure
A TripAdvisor listing says the attraction was reported permanently closed, and a December 2025 Reddit post in r/irishwhiskey says Killarney Distillery had closed and that remaining stocks, including a core Irish whiskey, were being released. We have not confirmed the closure with an official statement or the date, and sources we saw gave different founding years for the company.
Sources
Sources: Hip Cask, Killarney Distillery and Brewery, 13 March 2022; TripAdvisor attraction listing; Reddit r/irishwhiskey, December 2025 (unconfirmed). Read on 21 October 2026.
What makes Killarney distinctive?
Earlier sourced branded Irish whiskey associated with the distillery project
Killarney whisky bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Killarney Whiskey 1092 (sourced, historical) | NAS / edition varies | Check producer label | Historical or sourced whiskey; do not assume current production or stock. |
Bottles and editions listed above are documented expressions or historical associations, not live stock or guaranteed current distillery production. Confirm dates, strengths and provenance with the producer.
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Frequently asked questions about Killarney
Where is Killarney based?
County Kerry, Ireland.
Who owns or operates Killarney?
Killarney distillery project, closure reported in original guide.
What is distinctive about Killarney?
Earlier sourced branded Irish whiskey associated with the distillery project.
Which whiskies are documented?
Killarney Whiskey 1092 (sourced, historical). Editions and market availability may differ.
Can you visit Killarney?
Check the current official distillery website for tour and visitor arrangements.
Sources and editorial notes
Original research and source links have been preserved. Ownership, production, release schedules and visiting information may change.
Image note: featured whisky photograph is an illustration from the Whisky Clan media library, not a photo of this particular distillery or its products.
The cited 1092 whiskey reflects an earlier sourced release, and the existing guide reports subsequent closure. Do not infer current on-site distilling.
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Cover photograph: Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company's Fossa distillery building. Source: Irish Examiner. Photographer's original ownership and image reuse permission are not confirmed unless separately stated.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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