ISME, the Irish SME Association on Friday (May 25th) held its Annual Lunch in the Hogan Mezzanine Suite in Croke Park. ISME Chair Ciaran Murtagh opened the event and was delighted to introduce long-time member Patrick J Rigney to deliver the lecture at the ISME Annual Lunch to a packed audience.
Patrick J Rigney is the founder and owner of The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney, the first distillery in Connacht in over a century, and the creator of the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and The Shed Distillery brands.
A serial entrepreneur in the drinks, food and pharmaceuticals sectors, Patrick is also one of the finalists in the Emerging Category for EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2018. For three decades, he has been instrumental in establishing Irish drinks brands as global leaders, including the world’s number 1 selling liqueur brand – Baileys – during its formative years.
Comment from Patrick “When business is driven by passion and a desire to build a vision with positive outcomes for others, the potential is limitless. The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney was born of a passion, driven by something greater than a balance sheet. It was driven by people and community.”
“We started with just two employees at The Shed Distillery in December 2014. Now 22 full-time local employees, (many formerly long-term unemployed) proudly slow-distil and hand-bottle Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin for over 25 international markets, stretching from London to New York, Moscow to Sydney.”
“Soon employee numbers will exceed 40, with the launch of Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka, the release of the first Shed Distillery ‘Premier Grand Cru’ Irish Whiskey and the highly-anticipated new Visitor Experience.”
Comment from ISME CEO Neil McDonnell “We were delighted to present Patrick J Rigney with the ISME Medal. A long-time member of the Association, Patrick has all the great qualities of an entrepreneur; as a risk taker, an innovator, and a creative thinker. We congratulate him on his success now and for the future.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact
Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive
T: 01 6622755, M: 087 2995658
