About Us
We are husband and wife team Donagh Quigley and Gemma McGowan. Known for our work in establishing The Handmade Soap Company, 15 years ago, which has now become synonymous with sustainable and environmentally conscious business in Ireland.
In March 2026, after 24 months of field trials, we began herb cultivation in our polytunnel and the foraging of Spring flowers commenced. We tended the herbs though drought and water shortages and in doing so recognised their extraordinary resilience. And through the sowing, planting, tending and harvesting, not to mention the weeding, all of which is done by hand, we have found ever greater resilience within ourselves and our family. Like the plants, adversity and struggle can force us to dig ever deeper to find the resources hidden within!
It is our great privilege and with deep gratitude, to present to you, The Irish Herbal Apothecary. A collection of herbal remedies which we hope will bring the healing power of herbs back into peoples homes and hearts.
4 years ago we bought a small farm and we found ourselves becoming the custodians of a very special and magical patch of land within the Bru na Boinne UNESCO World Heritage Site in Co.Meath, fulfilling a life long dream of organic self sufficiency, woodland creation, rewilding and co-creating a better future for our children and those yet to come.
The first thing we did was plant 5000 trees, please see link here
Having collectively studied organic horticulture and organic herb cultivation we embarked on a new adventure to capture and bottle some of the magic of the land through the growing, foraging, harvesting and processing of native Irish herbs into blended tinctures, oxymels and oils.
Over a 3 year period we gently converted a number of acres from meadow grass using a 12 plant cover crop mix. This has provided a rich habitat and food source for wildlife and a riot of colour and pollinator activity for the Summer and early Autumn. Creating space for life is at the centre of all that we do as well as strictly adhering to Organic Principles and soil preservation.
