Celebration of Irish Mist's links with Tullamore this Saturday
It’s over 30 years since Irish Mist ceased operations in Tullamore and its former staff have planned a reunion in the town tomorrow.
It is highly appropriate that the Old Bonded Warehouse, a familiar setting for the ex Irish Mist workers, at the Visitor Centre on Bury Quay was chosen as the venue for the reunion on Saturday, April 2.
Former Irish Misit worker Frank Nicholson explained that “Irish Mist really put the name of Tullamore on the map and was available in over eighty countries throughout the world. It was a major employer to the town and the brand still resonates strongly with Tullamore and Offaly people.”
“It’s long overdue that a reunion for Irish Mist staff was held,” Mr Nicholson remarked. “The Old Bonded Warehouse was where many of us worked and it’s only fitting that the venue will host the reunion.”
“We are having a four-course sit down meal and due to the confines of the visitor centre, we are limited to just 100 people so we advise those interested in attending to book their tickets ASAP to avoid disappointment,” he said.
He promised “a wonderful nostalgic occasion where former colleagues will meet and raise a toast to all those alive and deceased who contributed to the success story that was Irish Mist.”
“There are people travelling from the four corners of Ireland to re-acquaint themselves with former colleagues, many who they haven’t seen in well over 30 years, and share stories of the great times we had working for Irish Mist, ” explained Mr Nicholson.
Irish Mist was the first liqueur to be produced in Ireland when commercial production began at the Tullamore facility in 1947, although the company history goes back to 1829 when the original Tullamore Distillery was founded.
The drink, a mixture of whiskey, honey and ‘secret ingredients’ was born out of an idea to use up the large stocks of whiskey available at the Tullamore Distillery following the WWII.
The company was sold by the Williams Group to Cantrell and Cochrane and the last bottle of Irish Mist produced in Tullamore came off the main production line at 4.35 pm on Wednesday, November 27, 1985. Irish Mist is now owned by the Italian company Gruppo Campari.
Tickets for the Irish Mist reunion, priced €25 to include a four course meal, are available from the organising committee: John Flanagan 087 9929460; Peter Prendergast 087 6601107; Frank Nicholson 086 3726619 and Brian McNair 085 7241935.