ABBEY QUARTER
Overview
The Abbey Quarter is a mixed-use modern redevelopment project with heritage at its core. Located on the banks of the River Nore in Kilkenny City Centre, this historical site was originally settled in the 13th century.
The redevelopment of the Abbey Quarter aims to create a thriving mixed-use space with offices, residential areas, hospitality, retail, community, and educational facilities. The remains of St. Francis Abbey, a historical landmark, will be accessible to the public for the first time in over 300 years, blending rich history with modern development.
Kilkenny Abbey Quarter Development Partnership (KAQDP) is a 50/50 partnership between Kilkenny County Council and the National Treasury Management Agency (as controller and manager of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). KAQDP has responsibility for the commercial development of the building plots on the site, Kilkenny County Council is responsible for the delivery of the surrounding public realm, community, and cultural infrastructure on the site.
Location & History
The Abbey Quarter is a strategic city centre site located on the banks of the River Nore.
The medieval heart of Kilkenny runs along the route of Ireland’s Medieval Mile, book-ended on one side by Kilkenny Castle and on the other by St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower.
Situated at the cathedral end, the Abbey Quarter site is steeped in history. Originally settled in the 13th century by Franciscan Monks who established St. Francis’s Abbey, the monks brewed ale on the site long before the establishment of the Smithwick’s brewery in the 1700s.
Brewing continued on the site for more than 300 years until the Smithwick’s brewery closed in 2014. Shortly afterwards, the site was purchased by Kilkenny County Council, and following a period of public consultation, a masterplan was adopted setting out the vision for the site and adjacent lands.
The remains of St. Francis Abbey—a historical landmark—have been stabilised and will be accessible to the public for the first time in over 300 years with the opening of the Urban Street and Park, blending rich history with modern development.
In recent years, the development plots were acquired by Kilkenny Abbey Quarter Development Partnership, a 50:50 joint venture between Kilkenny County Council and the National Treasury Management Agency. Over the life of the development, the partnership plans to develop a mixed-use space including office, residential, hospitality, retail, community, and educational facilities. This historic event was the first partnership between ISIF and a local authority in Ireland.
Abbey Quarter Masterplan
The Abbey Quarter is a once in a century opportunity to significantly improve the long-term liveability and economy of Kilkenny City. Much was done under the guidance of the original 2015 Masterplan, including the construction of the linear park, the refurbishment of the Brewhouse office building which is fully occupied and a new City Library, which is now open.
A comprehensive review was conducted and an updated Masterplan adopted in 2023 to ensure its alignment with best practice and continued progress. See the original 2015 and updated 2023 Masterplans below.
