Royal Oak Distillery's location

Built around 1755, Holloden House lies off the road from Dublin to Carlow near the village of Royal Oak, which derives its name from an old coaching inn that predates the village. The house was originally named Malcomville after its builder, a Mr. Malcomville but was renamed by its new owner, Phillip Doyne Vigors (1825-1903), after he retired from the army aged 55 in January 1881, on full pay with the rank of Colonel.

Holloden House courtesy of Ireland Genealogical Projects

The Holloden name comes from Holloden near Bridgerule on the border between Cornwall and north Devon, from where the Colonel's ancestor, the Rev. Louis Vigors (1578-1642) emigrated to become vicar of Kilfaughnabeg and Lilcoe in C0. Cork.

When Illva Saronno and the Walsh family acquired the estate in 2014 with plans to build their distillery, Holloden House was in a derelict state of repair. While the distillery was being built, a restoration project started and at the time of writing (May 2022) the house has been re-roofed and its panelled interior is once again protected from the elements. The plan is to continue the restoration work with a view to the house becoming a visitor centre.

I hope one day to enjoy a whiskey produced at the distillery next door whilst sat in a comfy leather chair beside a roaring fire in the restored house.