The Shannon is Ireland’s great river—and for hundreds of years this river and its canal systems were the arteries of commerce in Ireland.

They were the most efficient means of moving goods across much of the country. At the turn of the 20th century the sound of the steamboat making its way from Limerick City to the estuary town of Kilrush was a daily occurrence.

With the sound of the ships came a bustling trade to the Cappa Pier where J.J. Corry would await the arrival of his whiskey. From here, J.J. would bring his casks up the hill to Henry Street where he continuously blended his famous special malt.

The great river is now a forgotten highway, and these whiskey laden boat journeys are a thing of the past. But when Nick Ryan came to the farm and told us his plans to revive Thomand Gate Limerick Whiskey, we were keen to reignite the historic estuary connection between Limerick and Kilrush.

In the spirit of adventure we mustered a crew to man the Ilen. The Ilen is more than a beautiful timber-built sailing vessel made in Limerick—it is the beautiful realisation of the dream to reconnect people with the water. No better vessel existed for our nautical adventure to reclaim the Shannon for the story of Irish whiskey. 

With Captain Mike Ruane at the helm we docked at Limerick’s old steamboat quay to pick up the precious cargo. Waiting on the dock was a sight from a different time—a series of ex-bourbon casks filled with the Thomond Gate newmake spirit, which was distilled using grains specially commissioned and grown locally in Limerick. 

Cargo aboard and secured, the Ilen sailed down the Shannon towards the choppy Atlantic Estuary before turning into the Kilrush harbour and docking at the Cappagh pier. A small band of locals manned the silent pier to welcome whiskey back to Kilrush after 100 years.

From there we took the casks past the site of the old JJ Corry shop on Henry Street to the rackhouse on the McGuane Farm. Here in Cooraclare these casks of Thomond Gate whiskey continue on their slow journey to maturation under our careful watch.