Brand new whiskey festival coming to Carlow in January 2027

A new festival celebrating the whiskey industry in Carlow will hold its inaugural event on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 January 2027 with a programme of whiskey tastings, distillery experiences and events hosted across a number venues in the county.

The Carlow Whiskey Festival is a collaborative partnership involving Carlow County Council, Carlow Whiskey Society, local vintners, Carlow Tourism and County Carlow Chamber with an aim to establish this as an annual event that will strengthen the county as a destination for quality experiences, hospitality and tourism.

The festival will be officially unveiled at a launch event this Wednesday at 6pm in The Irishmans, Carlow, where attendees will have an opportunity to hear more about what plans for the January 2027 event. It will feature guest speaker Bernard Walsh, co-founder of Walsh Whiskey, who will share insights into the Irish whiskey industry and how these kinds of events can create opportunities for local communities and businesses.

“I am delighted that Carlow is preparing to introduce a new Whiskey Festival for 2027. This is an exciting initiative which brings together our local businesses, hospitality sector and tourism interests around a shared celebration of Irish whiskey and the experience that Carlow has to offer,” said mayor of Carlow, cllr Ken Murnane.

“It will be a great opportunity to hear more about the plans, meet those involved and get a first taste of what we hope will become a fantastic addition to Carlow's events calendar,” he added.

Kieran Comerford, head of economic development & enterprise with Carlow County Council, said that the festival is “a great example of what can be achieved through partnership and collaboration”.

“By bringing together the public and private sectors, local businesses and industry representatives, we can develop new experiences that add to Carlow's appeal as a destination, generate economic activity and create opportunities for our business community. We are looking forward to building this festival into an exciting annual event for Carlow,” he said.

The festival is supported by the Irishmans, Ewings, Tullys, Teach Dolmain and Scragg's Alley.

Carlow County Council welcomes anyone interested in finding out more about the festival to attend the official launch this Wednesday at 6pm in the Irishmans, Carlow town. by