Blarney Castle owner loses legal challenge over trade mark

European Union Intellectual Property Office rejects opposition filed by castle owner Charles Colthurst against an application by Blarney Spirit Distillers to have ‘Blarney Emerald’ registered as a trade mark 

Blarney Castle's owner opposed a bid to register Blarney Emerald as a trade mark. Picture: Dan Linehan

The owner of Blarney Castle in Cork has lost a legal challenge to a local distillery seeking to register the name ‘Blarney Emerald’ as an EU trade mark.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office rejected an opposition filed by the owner of the famous tourist attraction, Charles Colthurst, against the application by Blarney Spirit Distillers to have ‘Blarney Emerald’ registered as a trade mark under goods classified as alcoholic beverages.