Distilling Dublin: The inside story of a family whiskey adventure

After almost four years of work, St James’s Church in Dublin’s Liberties is finally ready to become the Pearse Lyons Distillery

Dr Pearse Lyons at the distillery that he and his wife built in Dublin’s Liberties Pic: Conor McCabe
The exterior of the Pearse Lyons Distillery

It is 6.30am. Dublin is dark, lit only by streetlights on a dry December morning. Pearse Lyons is running through the streets of the inner city around the old Iveagh Markets up Francis Street, down Thomas Street. He points towards South Earl Street where his father Thomas, my grandfather and namesake, grew up in the Liberties.

Across the Liffey lies Smithfield where five generations on his mother’s side, ...