Dubarry owner quits Nephin director role

Michael Walsh resigns from Mayo-based whiskey company

Paul and Jude Davis, two co-founders of Nephin Whiskey

Sean Pollock Email

April 04 2021 02:30 AM

Michael Walsh, a co-owner and marketing director of premium clothing company Dubarry Ireland, has resigned from his position as a director with Nephin Whiskey.

Walsh sent a letter of resignation to the Co Mayo-based whiskey company and distillery on February 4. A lawyer representing Walsh sent further correspondence to Jude and Paul Davis, two co-founders of Nephin Whiskey, requesting that they notify the Registrar of Companies of his resignation.

Walsh confirmed he had resigned to the Sunday Independent.

“I resigned my position as a director of Nephin Whiskey because I was no longer in a position to allocate the significant time and effort demanded of the role,” he said. “The recent changes at both board and management level require a much greater time commitment than I am in a position to offer at the present time.”

Since it was founded in 2014, Nephin has raised around €6m, of which €2.5m came from BES Management, an investment fund controlled by Davy stockbrokers and accounting firm BDO.

Nephin Whiskey’s distillery has yet to distil any whiskey. It is reported to be a year behind schedule after installing its stills, which Covid-19 delayed.

As first reported by The Business Post, the founders of Nephin Whiskey have become embroiled in a boardroom dispute. The dispute is between the Davises and fellow co-founder Mark Quick.

Quick resigned from his role as a director of Nephin Whiskey, referencing February 3, 2021. Others to resign from director positions include Joe Queenan, the managing director of Foxford Woollen Mills in Mayo.

According to The Business Post, BES Management sent a letter to Nephin Whiskey warning that it is facing a funding shortfall of between €1.1m and €1.8m that could threaten its future.