Business

The island’s largest Irish whiskey festival returns to Belfast this July

West Belfast’s St Comgall’s community hub to host festival expo following £7m regeneration

Shauna Graham from ABL Group main sponsor of Belfast Whiskey Week, with festival director Paul Kane and Joe Magowan prestige Irish whiskey developer at Irish Distillers.
L-R: Shauna Graham from ABL Group main sponsor of Belfast Whiskey Week, with festival director Paul Kane and Joe Magowan prestige Irish whiskey developer at Irish Distillers.
By Ryan McAleer

Ireland’s largest whiskey festival will bring its major spirits expo to west Belfast’s fully restored St Comgall’s building for the first time this summer.

Belfast Whiskey Week returns this July, with 100 events planned across nine days, bringing more than 40 brands and distilleries to the city.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has announced that its largest event will take place at the St Comgall’s/Ionad Eileen Howell site in west Belfast.

The former school on Divis Street was fully restored into a new community space following a £7.2 million regeneration scheme completed last year.

The event takes place on the penultimate day of the festival, which runs from July 19 to 27.

The St Comgall's building on Divis Street, which has been restores following a £7m regeneration scheme completed last year.
The St Comgall's building on Divis Street, which has been restores following a £7m regeneration scheme completed last year.

“Belfast city is steeped in whiskey heritage and legacy spanning 300 years and it’s important to recognise and celebrate that,” said festival director Paul Kane.

“Over the years, we are pleased to play our part in creating an annual event for those with an interest and taste for all things whiskey, as well as to help open up conversations with audiences new to whiskey or who have considered it not for them.”

The programme includes whiskey tastings; cocktail events; theatrical experiences; distillery tours; sensory and fine dining experiences; exclusive dining and drink collaborations with well-known Belfast bars and restaurants; heritage walking tours; food pairing sessions and much more.

Venues confirmed for 2024 include the Duke of York, The Deer’s Head, Angel & 2 Bibles, Holohan’s Pantry, Dark Horse, Maddens, The Morning Star, Hearth and Trademarket.

This year’s main festival sponsor is ABL Group. Andrew Galway from the commercial insurance and risk advisor said: “We bring specialised insurance expertise and solutions to the food, drink and hospitality sectors, so we’re excited to celebrate our involvement with local distilleries, bonders, blenders and warehousing businesses.

l_R: Annie Bethell from Angels’ Share; Joe Magowan, Irish Distillers; Sarah Kennedy, McConnell's Irish Whisky; Paul Kane festival director; Mary McKillop, Glens of Antrim Distillery; Conor Owens, Belfast Hidden Tours and Shauna Graham ABL Group, main festival sponsor.
L-R: Annie Bethell from Angels’ Share; Joe Magowan, Irish Distillers; Sarah Kennedy, McConnell's Irish Whisky; Paul Kane festival director; Mary McKillop, Glens of Antrim Distillery; Conor Owens, Belfast Hidden Tours and Shauna Graham ABL Group, main festival sponsor.

Belfast Whiskey Week partners include Whiskey Club NI, Echlinville Distillery, The Friend at Hand and the Duke of York, Urban Bar, Serac Ice and Three Cents.

For further details see belfastwhiskeyweek.com.