Kilkenny

Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh) is the county seat of County Kilkenny, Ireland, with a population (including environs) of 20,735. The city is located on the River Nore and is the only city that is not tidal in the republic. It is also the only city in the republic that is not a county borough and so its administration is a "borough council" rather than "city council" as with the other cities. The city is also the only city of the republic that has neither an institute of technology nor university although National University of Ireland, Maynooth maintains an outreach center in the city. The city is famed for its history and night life.

Industry

The town has a history of brewing and is home to St. Francis Abbey Brewery which was founded in the early 18th Century by messrs Cole and Smithwick. This brewery had been owned by the Guinness Ireland Group since the 1960s. At the beginning of the 21st Century, Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan plc to form Diageo, the world's largest alcoholic beverage business, and the brewery is now a part of Diageo Global Supply. Smithwick's Ale now forms only a small percentage of production there. Another product is the ale Kilkenny, a close relation of the ale Smithwicks. Kilkenny ale was originally created specifically for the export market to help those who found the word "Smithwicks" difficult to pronounce, but has since carved out a place for itself in the Irish beer market. Some 80% of beer produced at the brewery is Budweiser, a brand not owned by Diageo, but produced under licence.

Related Topics:
Brewing - Guinness - Diageo - Budweiser

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Kilkenny is also home to the head offices and a factory of Glanbia. Glanbia is one of the world's top cheese and dairy companies. Glanbia was formed from the merging of two dairy businesses: Avonmore and Waterford foods. Glanbia has interests in Ireland, the UK and the USA, and employs a total of about 4000 people.

Related Topics:
Glanbia - Cheese - Ireland - UK - USA

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