County Kilkenny hosts several chief craft breweries and distilleries that contribute to the local production of beer and spirits. Smithwick’s Experience in Kilkenny city traces its brewing heritage to 1710 when founded by John Smithwick though current operations focus on visitor experiences rather than full-scale production on site. It produces red ale pale ale and related beers with its chief products including Smithwick’s red ale and Kilkenny beer with a USP in its long association with ale brewing in the medieval city and interactive tours that allow visitors to engage with the process.
Sullivan’s Brewing Company revived in Kilkenny city at 15 John Street in 2016 draws on origins from 1702 when established at The Maltings on James’s Street. It produces ales in small batches with its chief products centring on Maltings Irish Red Ale and other expressions with a USP in the independent revival by descendants of historic brewing families and focus on artisan methods using local ingredients.
Ballykeefe Distillery in Cuffesgrange near Kilkenny city commenced in 2017 as a family-farm operation. It produces Irish whiskey gin vodka and poitín with its chief products including single malt whiskey pot still whiskey Lady Desart Gin Extra Dry Irish Gin and Sloe Gin with a USP in its field-to-glass approach using own-grown grains sustainable practices and eco-friendly production on the farm.
Highbank Orchards in Kilkenny county operates from a 19th-century farmhouse as the smallest distillery in Ireland. It produces organic apple-based spirits cider and juices with its chief products including apple cider apple brandy apple vodka and liqueurs with a USP in its focus on organic apples from family orchards and innovative spirits derived from juicing varieties.
Craft Brewing & Distilling county by county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Dining
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow – Overall – County winners – Georgina Campbell – Good Food Ireland – Michelin Star
County Kilkenny:
Ireland’s county Kilkenny is a county of medieval charm, with Kilkenny City’s castle and St Canice’s Cathedral showcasing well-preserved architecture and round towers. The Dunmore Cave offers intriguing limestone formations, while the Nore Valley’s walking trails provide scenic beauty. Other attractions include the historic Jerpoint Abbey’s intricate carvings. Kilkenny is Ireland’s 16th largest county by size (2,062 square km) and 21st largest by population (104,160). Population peaked at 202,420 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 60,463 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Kilkenny is Ireland’s eleventh most visited tourist county with around 207,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
