I remember that ‘eureka’ moment, the lightbulb over my head switching on and I decided I was onto something with my business idea. But initially I dismissed it as a pipe dream, and I thought it was just a phase that would pass, but I could not get it out of my system. I decided I would really regret it later in life if I did not pursue this adventure.
The pipe-dreaming led to daydreaming; what whiskey trails would I sell, what exactly would my private whiskey tastings consist of. Once I got going, it was so rewarding to get almost 4 years of thoughts in my head, up onto a website and into interesting packages for clients. Then the adrenaline starts pumping when clients like what you have created, and they buy!
Two and a half years on, I am growing. Ireland is such a great country to set up a tourism business in. There were a lot of business owners in my family to be inspired by, including my Dad who I work closely with. I did a college degree that really encouraged entrepreneurship and hit home the message that it’s no big deal if it doesn’t work out, you just re-join the workforce and move on. I don’t really view what I do as a job, I’m always on duty, it’s always on my mind and I’m absolutely fine with that. The only challenge would be keeping on top of things should you fall ill!
The hardest part of the entire process was at the beginning – saying goodbye to security, leaving a well-paid safe job, was a very daunting experience. But you quickly get used to living on whatever funds you have coming in, you make it work. My wife lost her job three months after I started Whiskey Island, but we made it work. There are now considerable new challenges ahead thanks to Covid-19, but I remain positive and optimistic and I will make it work! I love Whiskey Island, it’s good for my day-to-day happiness, it’s good for my soul.
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Founder