Smithwick fulfills boyhood dream as brewing returns to Kilkenny

Kilkenny’s proud brewing history opened a new chapter last week as Sullivan’s Brewing Company, based on John Street in the city, bottled its first-ever brew of Maltings Irish Red Ale in collaboration with Teac Tom.

Hand-bottled straight from the fermenter, one litre bottles have been available to collect from the bar/restaurant over the past number of days with local demand high.

Back in September, ale brewing returned to the Marble City with Sullivan’s taking a number of significant steps to make sure their dream of returning full-time brewing to Noreside could become reality.

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In 2012, Diageo relocated the Smithwick’s Brewery from Kilkenny to Dublin, leaving behind what owner Dan Smithwick has previously referred to as a ‘scar in the soul of the community’.

Since then, Dan and Alan Smithwick and other co-founders have been working to develop a brewery in Kilkenny once again.
Dan and his family’s ‘life mission’ has been to bring brewing back to Kilkenny. 

The site on John Street will be the spiritual home of Sullivan’s Brewing Company, the head office is situated there and the brewery will be the base for domestic draught.

Meanwhile, proceeds from the sales of Sullivan’s first batch of Maltings Irish Red Ale are being donated to local suicide prevention charity Teac Tom.

The collaboration was the brainchild of Alex and Kelly of Sullivan’s Taproom who are long-term ambassadors of Teac Tom with their vision leading to the successful partnership.

This year marks yet another milestone in Teac Tom’s history. Since 2014, the service has operated from Ormonde Street but after over a decade in their city centre site, they are now preparing to move to a new home in Croker’s Hill on the Kenny’s Well Road.

"It’s going to save a huge amount of money when we’re moving, from paying rent in a leased premises to a property collaborating with the county council," Fiona O’Neill of Teac Tom said.

"That’s money that can go back into paying the therapists to be able to provide the counselling to the people in the community," she added.

Dan Smithwick revealed the brewing breakthrough was the ‘stuff of dreams’ and described the occasion as a ‘ceremonious day’, commenting, "we’re calling it a noble brew, noble cause," highlighting the importance of teaming up with Teac Tom to raise vital funds.

"I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a child, bringing brewing back to Kilkenny," he added.

"It’s in the DNA of myself and Alan and the journey to get it to this point has been an exceptionally long and difficult one.

"But looking around now at what is like a bespoke built brewery for the space here in the center of Kilkenny City, I’m enormously proud,” he continued.

"It’s the stuff of dreams to be honest."

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