The Back Story : A Spirited Irish Business Woman, bringing Aviation style Gin & and Vintage Irish Whiskey to the Craft Spirits market in Ireland..
The intoxicating combination of an Irish entrupunerial woman, within the Irish Craft spirits industry, with an added Aviation twist; a journey taking many varying routes & re-inventions, from 1982 to the present day..
Marie Ann Mc Loughlin Dwyer started her professional career in the summer of 1982, pulling ice-cream cones at Murphy’s newsagents in upper Baggot street, Dublin 4. “Dublin in the early 80’s was edgy, gritty, full of characters, and very much the centre of my world” recalls Marie Ann. Remembering her Ice-Cream sales apprenticeship, Marie Ann explains, “Leaving school was a happy release for me to be honest, each report card highlighted my “middle of the road” status, in fact the same sentence appeared on all of my end of term report cards “Marie Ann could do better”, the thing was, I was an anchorless pupil, who adored English and communication, however, I lived in fear of maths, and the Irish language. I had NO idea exactly how to do better!
“By October 1985, another career opened up for me” said Marie Ann “I became a teenage mother”. “It would be another ten years before I had the confidence, or the resources to re-enter adult education, although I never achieved a formal degree, by 1999 I had enough qualifications to be recruited by Aer Lingus, a game changer, which has stood to me all of my life. I had studied nursing and phlebotomy from 1995 until the day I joined Aer Lingus. I had worked at St. James Hospital Dublin, within the HIV bloods & outpatients clinic. At the same time I was working occasional hours at Mount Carmel Hospital, a private maternity Hospital in Dublin. Additionally, I was taking several night classes for mature students at UCD Dublin in sociology. Life was opening up for me. At last. Perhaps I could “do better”.
So how does all of this backstory relate to my current status as “Founder & Creative Director” of a beverage co? “To be honest, the newsagents, the night courses, the studying, the nursing, the retail experience, it all set me on course. As I worked, I learned, most importantly I learned how to harness several important and core business accruements needed for brand building”.
They say life itself is a university, and for me that statement is not only true, but it’s how I’ve lived, it’s how I’ve learned. I’ve stocked shelves, packed boxes, promoted products, helped develop products. I’ve worked with luxury goods manufacturers, and listened to people negotiate. I’ve nursed the dying, the disabled, and sometimes the frightened. I’ve cared for the elderly, and the venerable. I’ve seen greed, bad business practice, and the ugly side of competition. However, I’ve also seen life, I’ve seen patients win battles, overcome fear & survive against all of the odds. I’ve witnessed professional excellence, and genuine mentorship. I have listened to kind spirited leaders, who have encouraged others, and have been willing to share their time and experience for little or no reward. I’ve worked with creatives who dedicate themselves to exploration, uniqueness, and aesthetics.
The fine art of “merging” experience and pulling the best parts of industries, has always been a great source of inspiration for me. My Runway 28 labels are a combination of Industry collaborations, seamlessly gliding between the Aviation world that I know, & and the world of Artisan Crafted Irish Spirits & the experts who distill. I continuously learn from masters, experts, and apprentices alike, and will continue to enjoy the process of growth and development, both professionally and personally.
Our latest brand addition is our Maisy Mc Loughlin’s Grand Irish Whiskey, inspired by my Grand Mother, Maisy O’Neill, who became a Mc Loughlin once married. A spirited young Dublin seamstress, who was born in 1913, and left me a legacy of hard work, and a love of all things fine & bespoke, including of course…Whiskey. Our Whiskey is a triple distilled Irish Whiskey, distilled at the iconic Great Northern Distillery in Ireland, and much like Maisy herself, a bright, young Whiskey, full of character!
The Runway 28 labels: Runway 28 Gin are available to purchase at City of Derry Airport (Airside) and at www.runway28gin.com and www.pilot.ie. To puchase a bottle of Maisy Mc Loughlin’s Whiskey go to www.maisymcloughlins.com
