Craft work: Carpenter-turned cooper at Cork distillery honing his skills 

Derek Cronin has become just the second cooper in almost half a century to be appointed to Irish Distillers’ facility in Cork

Derek Cronin has just taken up his role as a cooper at Irish Distillers’ expanding Midleton Distillery, which produces some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys.
Picture: Cathal Noonan

Like the whiskeys he’ll help produce, he’s a rare breed.

A carpenter who has become just the second cooper in almost half a century to be appointed to Irish Distillers’ massive distillery in Cork says he hopes to play his part in keeping the ancient craft alive.