“We chose the name Legacy for our cider because I’m following in the footsteps of my grandfather and my father by making a living from apples”
Liam McDonell, founder of Legacy Irish Cider
Liam McDonnell started Legacy Irish Cider in 2015 on the family apple nursery in the lush Brickey valley, 3 miles outside Dungarvan in Waterford. Liam’s father Pat grew apple trees here. Liam took it one step further and started to make cider.
Liam’s Grandfather was an entrepreneur of his time and had many commercial ventures. One successful venture was planting a number of orchards in his farm in Tallow, West Waterford and selling the apples to local shops.
Liam’s father, Pat became fascinated with apple growing, studied horticulture in Dublin university and received a scholarship to Cornell University in New York. He became a doctor in the subject and developed his own miniature Apple Tree called Coronet.
Liam worked with his Dad for 10 years selling these trees throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe before he decided to start his own business in 2015 making cider from apples – The Legacy continues….
The Legacy Cider range expanded over the years to include three permanent flavours – Dry, Medium and Barrel-Aged – as well as limited edition / seasonal products such as the Christmas Mulled Cider and more recently our exclusive apple sparkling wine, ‘La Petite Clem’.
This is a Map of Liam’s grandfather’s farm in 1841. It shows the original house that is still lived in today, farm buildings and to the left is the orchard with a ‘Cider House’. It is believed that cider was produced here and exported to the UK from the River Bride which was at the end of their farm. So over 180 years later Cider making returns to the family!
