What began as love at first sight became an intense labor of devotion. Reversing the Poe-like fate that surrounded Knappogue Castle would require commitment, imagination and vision. In 1966, the couple embarked on an ambitious process of restoration.

The couple's commitment to restoring a landmark blossomed into a new generation of Irish tradition. While Mrs. Andrews orchestrated a meticulous restoration process, Mr. Andrews indulged in his passion for collecting casks of fine Irish whiskey. He amassed an impressive and rare collection of pure pot still whiskey produced at the B. Daly Distillery. When the whiskey reached its peak age, it was bottled and named after his beloved Knappogue. The last of Mr. Andrews' whiskey, Knappogue Castle 1951, is the oldest and rarest Irish whiskey in the world.

Many years later, Mark Andrews' son would bring Knappogue 1951 and his father's legacy to the market. From his father’s passion for pot still whiskey and his mother's commitment to restoring a legend, Mark Andrews III built Knappogue into a global brand. Today, the tradition of Knappogue is cherished and preserved by lovers of Irish culture and whiskey. And, what was once languishing in the cellars of history is now full bodied, aged to perfection and bursting with triumph.

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One might describe it as love at first sight. When Lavoné Dickensheets Andrews, a Texas architect, and her husband stumbled upon the remains of a 15th century Irish castle, both were struck by a passionate impulse to restore the glory and grandeur of Knappogue Castle.

"There it stood," Mrs. Andrews recalled, "a great pile of gray stone towering above a bleak, bare landscape, very cold, very silent, with two great black birds flying in and out of the gaping holes where the windows had been." The Castle seemed a magnificent shell of its former self. Despite its crumbling walls, hallowed-out doorways and windows, the Castle reflected the spirit of triumph and resilience that marked its prominent place in history. Originally built by the noble MacNamara clan in 1467 as a defense against invading Normans, the withered walls of Knappogue still seemed to echo the battle songs of its brave soldiers.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, intending to purchase a "modest" castle, quickly found themselves becoming heroic characters in the unfolding new chapters of Irish history. Suddenly married to the cause of this Castle, the couple began restoring a landmark of Irish culture.

The Andrews began the daunting task of restoring the Castle from the ground up. The first phase of restoration, redesigning the ground floor and weatherproofing the entire structure, was completed in just nine months. The jubilant spirit that once danced on the floors of this Castle was restored in July 1967, when the public was invited to attend the first Knappogue Castle banquet. Soon afterward, the couple oversaw the restoration of the chapel, two adjacent rooms in the tower, the second stone stairway and an addition to the living quarters, serving as their private apartment. What began as a mission to revive a legend came to fruition with the completion of the courtyard and walled garden.