Основательница ирландского дистиллерии Skellig Six18 Джун О'Коннелл скончалась после болезни

Skellig Six18’s June O’Connell dies June O’Connell, the co-founder of Irish spirits producer Skellig Six18 in South Kerry, died on 5 August following illness. “She was taken from us far too soon, and her loss is felt deeply across the distillery and throughout South Kerry,” the distillery said in a statement. “Over recent months, she showed remarkable courage and resilience as she faced illness.” O’Connell founded the Skellig Six18 brand with her husband and business partner, Patrick Cooney, and local business partner Pat Sugrue in 2019, having previously practised law in Dublin for more than 25 years. The founders turned an old Wilson Socks factory, located by the Skellig Coast in County Kerry, into a distillery and visitor destination. The distillery produces a range of Irish whiskeys and a gin. The brand is named after the 618 steps carved into Skellig Rock by monks in the sixth century. The distillery highlighted her as a champion for Cahersiveen and the wider Skellig Coast. She saw the distillery as a long-term investment in tourism, employment, and the future of the region. Beyond Skellig Six18, she was also actively involved in business, tourism, cultural and community initiatives across South Kerry. “June believed in this place with a conviction that was impossible to ignore. She brought extraordinary energy to everything she did and gave people confidence in themselves and in South Kerry,” said the distillery’s commercial operations manager, Cathal O’Connor. “The distillery exists because of her courage, her vision, and her determination to create something lasting for this community.” The distillery confirmed that it will “continue the work June began by welcoming visitors to the Skellig Coast, sharing the story of this special place, and carrying forward the vision she held so passionately for South Kerry”. In a statement shared across its social media channels, the board, management, and staff of Skellig Six18 Distillery said: “We remember June, our founder and CEO. “June was the founder and guiding force behind Skellig Six18 Distillery. Her love for South Kerry, Cahersiveen and the Skellig Coast shaped everything she did. After a successful legal career, she chose to build something enduring in the place she loved most. “June often described Cahersiveen as being on one of the last roads in Ireland. She used that phrase with pride. To many, our location seemed remote; to June, it was full of possibility. She knew that this corner of Ireland could stand proudly alongside any world-class distilling destination, and she believed it was capable of far more than others imagined. “Those of us who worked with June knew her determination, generosity and remarkable ability to inspire confidence in others. She often spoke about muinín – a quiet but unwavering confidence that worthwhile things are possible, even in places others overlook. She gave that confidence to so many people. “Skellig Six18 was never simply a business to her; it was her way of expressing faith in this landscape, its people and its future. June saw the 618 steps of Skellig Michael as a symbol of character, perseverance, humility, resilience and strength, and this inspired her vision. June wanted to create something lasting, something that would bring visitors here, create opportunity and give future generations another reason to be proud of where they come from. “The distillery that stands here today reflects her vision, courage and deep love for the Skellig Coast. Her legacy lives not only in the spirits we make, but in the people she encouraged, the confidence she gave them and the belief she inspired in this community. “June was taken from us far too soon, and her loss is deeply felt by all of us. She displayed tremendous perseverance and resilience over the past few months as she bravely battled illness. June lived the values upon which she built the Skellig Six18 Distillery right to the very end. “We miss her terribly. We will continue the journey she began, welcoming people to this special place and sharing the vision she held so passionately for South Kerry. We will carry on telling the stories of Skellig Six18, living the values the brand represents, and striving to bring a taste of the Skellig Coast to the four corners of the world. That commitment is our promise to June and to the future she believed this remarkable place could achieve.”