Galway-based premium craft gin company Tribe Irish Gin, has just opened the doors to Tribe Gin School – Ireland’s largest and Galway’s first, dedicated gin school.
Situated in Galway’s vibrant seaside village Salthill, Tribe Gin School offers a fun and informative experience where guests can enjoy a gin tipple and create their own unique flavour along the way. The new 1400 sq ft space can seat 22 people at a time for gin classes and boasts a range of unique design features including an apothecary-style botanical pick n’ mix area for pupils to choose their own distinctive flavour combinations.
The space, which underwent a €140k refurbishment, was designed by Sean Dockry & Associates along with interior designer Eithne Turley who worked closely with the founders over the past 12 months to bring their vision to life.
Developed in March 2021 by four Galway natives, Tribe Irish Gin and Gin School came to life in the throes of a global pandemic. Founded by long-time friends and proud Tribesmen, Adam Scally, Cormac Commins, Ciarán O’Domhnaill and Michael Allen, the vision for the brand came together during the lockdown, when time was on their side.
The friends wanted to create a gin that would appeal to the modern-day‘ tribal beat’ of the city, while the gin school would offer Galwegians and visitors alike a unique experience and opportunity to learn about the age-old gin-making process in a fun, fresh environment.
Speaking about the launch of Tribe Gin School, Founder Cormac Commins said, ”The opening of Tribe Gin School Is a special milestone for all four of us. It was a pipe dream 16 months ago between a few friends and to see it materialize into this fantastic building in Salthill is brilliant. We are really proud of how the gin school has turned out, given the blank slate we had to work with. We have put all our efforts into creating something that we hope many people will experience and enjoy. We are excited now to open our doors and showcase the new space and experience to the public.”
Visitors to Tribe Gin School are in for a treat from learning about the traditions of gin making to distilling their own bottle of gin to take home, and not forgetting the opportunity to sample some delicious drinks throughout the class.
Perfect for birthdays, team building events, and group get-togethers, Tribe Gin School welcomes guests over the age of 18 to learn about distilling and techniques for creating the perfect gin.
Speaking about the concept, Founder Ciarán O’Domhnaill said, “We felt that Galway needed something new and we wanted to deliver this unique Tribe gin school experience to the city. Our Gin School is all about bringing people together, getting the creative juices flowing by creating and distilling your very own bottle of gin as well as highlighting the fun, exciting and creative aspects of the city of the Tribes!”
After a year of dedication and laser focus from the founders, Tribe Gin School is ready to welcome groups.
Speaking about the process, Founder Adam Scally said, “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our doors. There has been a lot of hard work and a few sleepless nights along the way as well as a number of set-backs so we are over the moon to open the doors to the public. We’re all local lads so it makes the feeling even better to be opening this gin school at home. It’s an extremely proud moment for all of us. If you were to tell me 2 years ago when I was on the beach in Sydney that I would be owning & running a gin school in Galway with 3 of my friends, I would have said you were mad!”
“It has been a great experience so far and there are plenty of people who helped us get to this point . Now we are focused on delivering the best experience possible to the people of Galway and beyond. This is just the start of what people can expect from Tribe.”
Tribe Irish Gin, which was launched in November 2022, took home a Gold Medal at The Spirits Business Gin Masters 2022, the largest Gin Masters to date with 513 entries.
Tribe Gin School Experience
Estimated Time: 2 1/2 hours
Learn how gin is made and distilled
Distil your own unique bottle of gin, using a wide range of botanicals
Enjoy complimentary gins throughout the class.
Local cheeses and nibbles will also be provided.
Add a personalized label to your 70cl bottle of gin to take home.
Price: €95 per person
For more information or to make a booking, visit www.tribegin.ie.
