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Amenities
- Safety notice:: Please note that the St Francis Abbey Brewery is a working brewery. For this reason - Visitors are required to wear flat, closed shoes. No open toe footwear or high heels shoes.
- History:: This abbey (more correctly friary) of the Franciscans was founded between 1231 and 1234 by Richard Marshall, Third Earl of Pembroke. In 1331 Dame lsabelia Pairner extended the Chancel and erected the high altar and present east window, which extends almost the entire height and width of the church and consists of a seven-light window. In 1540 the friary was suppressed and its properties granted to the Corporation. The subsequent ruin of the monastery was accelerated by the seemingly inevitable building of a barracks in the grounds. Only the chancel and bell tower of the church were spared together with the sacristy, recently restored as the oratory of Smithwicks Brewery.
- Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday inclusive 1pm, 3pm and 3.30pm. Advance booking necessary.
- Admission Prices: Price €10 - Admission to over 18's only. For your safety, please wear appropriate footwear - No high-heels or open toe footwear.
The Smithwicks Experience at St Francis Abbey Brewery
Kilkenny City
Kilkenny
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Ireland South
Over 300 years ago in 1710, John Smithwick began brewing his first Ales, although the Smithwick’s story started long before then. He chose the site of an ancient monastery, St Francis Abbey in Kilkenny City, to position his brewery. John was inspired by a tradition of brewing on this site, the foundations of which were laid four centuries earlier. Back in the 13th century the Franciscans established an Abbey, with its own well, on the banks of the River Nore in Kilkenny. Whilst brewing and barley cultivation are recorded in Irish Annals from the mists of time, the strong brewing tradition that exists in Kilkenny started with these monks who would have brewed their own light ale for their visitors, using water from St Francis' Well. To this day the Abbey stands proudly at the heart of the brewery and continues to inspire our brewers. Guided tours of Smithwick's Saint Francis Abbey Brewery are available. There are summer and winter schedules for tours. For groups of 12 or more there is a 20% discount. Pre booking is essential, please ring ahead for information.
Contact
Telephone+353 (0)56 779 6498Email: smithwickstours@diageo.com
Website: www.smithwicks.ie
Address: St Francis Abbey Brewery, Parliament St,, Kilkenny City, Co Kilkenny, Republic Of Ireland
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The Smithwicks Experience at St Francis Abbey Brewery
