Smithwick's Brewery
Kilkenny, Ireland · Est. 1710
Tally's Take
Why this matters
Ireland's oldest ale, brewed on an abbey site for three centuries before the kettles moved to Dublin.
The Museum
Timeline
- 1710Founded
Smithwick's Brewery begins brewing in Kilkenny.
- 1965Bought by Guinness
The Smithwick family ran the Kilkenny brewery from 1710 until 1965, when Guinness bought it. Guinness became part of Diageo in 1997, and in 2013 the Kilkenny brewery was closed and production moved to Dublin — 303 years of brewing in one town, ended by an owner two removes away.
- 2013Expansion
Francis Abbey in Kilkenny until production moved to Dublin in 2013.
The Beer Library
Beers
Smithwick's
Year-RoundIrish Red Ale
Brewed in Kilkenny on the grounds of a medieval abbey where Franciscan monks had made ale since the 13th century. John Smithwick just made it official — 316 years ago.
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How it changed hands
1 recorded move- 1710Founded
- 1965Bought by Guinness
The Smithwick family ran the Kilkenny brewery from 1710 until 1965, when Guinness bought it. Guinness became part of Diageo in 1997, and in 2013 the Kilkenny brewery was closed and production moved to Dublin — 303 years of brewing in one town, ended by an owner two removes away.
Today the chain tops out at Diageo plc.
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
Smithwick's Brewery is controlled by Public company.
Diageo plc Annual Report 2025 · Diageo plc · 2025-08
PrimaryHigh reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about Smithwick's Brewery
- Who owns Smithwick's Brewery?
- Smithwick's Brewery is owned by Diageo plc. Smithwick's Brewery is based in Kilkenny, Ireland.
- Is Smithwick's Brewery still independent?
- No. Smithwick's Brewery is owned by Diageo plc and is no longer independent.
- When was Smithwick's Brewery acquired?
- 1965. The Smithwick family ran the Kilkenny brewery from 1710 until 1965, when Guinness bought it. Guinness became part of Diageo in 1997, and in 2013 the Kilkenny brewery was closed and production moved to Dublin — 303 years of brewing in one town, ended by an owner two removes away.
- When was Smithwick's Brewery founded?
- Smithwick's Brewery was founded in 1710 in Kilkenny, Ireland.
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