A NEW distillery in Royal Oak, Co Carlow advertised its wares in two ways at the Carlow Farmers’ point-to-point in the grounds of Borris House last Sunday, sponsoring the open race and providing free hot toddies for every raffle ticket purchased at its stand.

Walsh Whiskey Distillery is the brainchild of Bernard Walsh and his wife Rosemary, whose children hunt with the Co Carlow foxhound pack. Over 55 jobs are being created with the development of the distillery and visitor centre, where six million bottles of whiskey will be produced each year.

At the end of the meeting, a couple of bottles found their way to the tea-tent, helping to warm up all those who had been on duty for the hunt during the day. The mounted stewards took time out first to jump some of the fences when racing concluded.