Who are James and Moira Doherty? The story behind Sliabh Liag Distillers
The story of Sliabh Liag Distillers can be briefly summarized: in 2014, James and Moira Doherty traded their lives in Hong Kong for Donegal to build the county's first legal distillery in 175 years in Ardara. Who are the people behind Silkie?
In short
| Names | James and Moira Doherty |
| Background | International beverage industry (William Grant) & Sons, Foster's, SABMiller) |
| Return to Donegal | 2014, after having lived abroad for years |
| Company | Sliabh Liag Distillers, founded with James Keith, Domenic De Lorenzo and John Davidson |
| Role | James: Managing Director. Moira: Distiller and Director, also responsible for An Dúlamán Gin |
From the international beverage industry to a fallow field
James Doherty spent decades in the international beverage industry, holding executive positions at William Grant. & Sons, Foster's, and SABMiller in more than 150 markets worldwide. His parents were originally from Donegal and emigrated to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. Moira Doherty, born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, traveled with him for years. In 2014, they left Hong Kong to settle on the Sliabh Liag Peninsula — the place where James' great-grandmother once lived, and where the couple's new home was built partly using stones from that original dwelling.
Why "scatterlings"?
Sliabh Liag Distillers likes to describe its founders as "scatterlings" — people who roamed the world before returning to their origins. That international perspective, combined with a deep connection to the landscape, climate, and traditions of Donegal, forms the core of the brand philosophy: "soft-drinking hard spirits" that capture the region's terroir.
The MeiTheal team
A meitheal (Irish for work crew or association) of more than thirty people, spread across Donegal and the rest of the world, gathered around the Dohertys. Alongside James and Moira, the board includes James Keith (forty years of experience in entrepreneurship and finance), Domenic De Lorenzo (former CFO of SABMiller), and John Davidson (former General Counsel of SABMiller, now chairman). That background in a global beverage group explains why a small distillery from Donegal is now sold in some forty countries.
What this means for Silkie whiskies
The Ardara Distillery, built on Show Field in the center of Ardara, is the first legal distillery in Donegal in 175 years. While the whiskey is now distilled and aged on-site, the Silkie blends are blended and bottled in nearby Carrick. The result is a range that is deliberately accessible: smooth, narrative, and named after the mythical seal women of the Donegal coast, with a hint of smoke as a nod to the smoky whiskey style the region was once known for and which Sliabh Liag is now reviving.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sliabh Liag Distillers founded?
In 2014, when James and Moira Doherty returned to Donegal to set up the distillery.
Where do James and Moira Doherty come from?
James' family is originally from Donegal but emigrated to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. Moira was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Both lived and worked internationally before settling in Donegal.
Is the Ardara Distillery really the first in 175 years?
Yes — Sliabh Liag Distillers is described as the first legal distillery in Donegal in over 175 years.
Does Moira Doherty also make the whiskey?
Moira is a director and distiller at the company and, in particular, the driving force behind An Dúlamán Gin; she is closely involved in the development of the visitor experience at the Ardara Distillery.
What does "meitheal" mean?
Irish for a group of people working together on a shared task — at Sliabh Liag Distillers, the group of over thirty people behind the brand.
