€100 Million Redevelopment of Former Home of Smithwick’s Brewery in Kilkenny Commences
Mythen Construction has broken ground on the prestigious new development at Abbey Quarter in the centre of Kilkenny. The breaking ground ceremony was attended by Eoin Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. The renovation will accommodate offices, education and research and development spaces.
The Abbey Quarter, site of the former Smithwick’s Brewery, is a strategic city centre site located on the banks of the River Nore and accessed off Irelands Medieval Mile, a unique discovery trail running through the heart of Kilkenny City. It is steeped in history – the story of the St Francis Abbey, its monks and their life here in the city; the story of Kilkenny’s great tradition in brewing – 300 years of Smithwicks, under the majestic 12th Century Kilkenny Castle and overlooked by St Canice’s Cathedral and it is protected by the City Wall.
Kilkenny County Council entered into a 50:50 partnership with Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and established the Kilkenny Abbey Quarter Development Limited (KAQDL) to develop the building plots. KAQDL has responsibility for the commercial development of the plots, including the buildings on the Abbey Quarter. These buildings will include a mix of offices, residential, education and retail uses and will be delivered on a commercial basis. Kilkenny County Council is responsible for the delivery of the significant public realm, community and cultural infrastructure in the Abbey Quarter.
Launching the redevelopment works, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said: “Over €6 million has been granted to Kilkenny County Council to help achieve the vision for the Abbey Quarter, with the 800-year-old Abbey as its stunning centrepiece, a new linear park running along the banks of the River Nore, and a new Public Realm works around the iconic Brewhouse and Mayfair buildings and the renovation of two 19th century teahouses.
“The Government has a vision and it is to invest in more compact, sustainable and community-centred developments. We want homes, workplaces, schools and amenities to be built in sensible, sustainable ways that improve the quality of life for families, workers and local communities. We want new developments to be climate friendly. With Project Ireland 2040 our investment matches the quality of the plans.”
Indeed some 200 projects across the country have been granted funding of over €330 million under the four Project Ireland funds in their first year.
Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, said: “This project is the very essence of what the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) was established to deliver. It is a spend from the public purse levering private sector investment to deliver redevelopment of a city centre brownfield site for mixed use development. I am delighted that my Department was in a position to support the project to the tune of €6 million.”
Established in 1994, Mythen Construction has grown to become a nationally recognised main contractor having successfully completed hundreds of projects across all spheres of the construction industry in both the public and private sector with values ranging from €250,000.00 to €30 million. Some of the recently completed high profile projects include:
- The award winning St. Johns College Refurbishment & New Residential project – Waterford.
- Oldtown Housing Development comprising 110 Number constructed high end energy efficient Quality Homes – Naas Co. Kildare
- IT Carlow Learning & Resource Centre Building – Carlow
- Merck Sharp & Dohme Fit-out Luzern – Switzerland
- Kildangan Stud Godolphin Group – Kildare
- Martins Special School – Waterford
- Fit-out of works to 2-4 Merrion Row for Irish Life Property fund – Dublin
- The award winning Monart House Hotel & Destination spa – Wexford
- Wygram 70 bed Nursing Home – Wexford
- Wexford Hospital extension on behalf of HSE – Wexford
- Belvilla HSE Nursing Home – Dublin
- Druids Glen – High end extension project – Wicklow
- Clearstream Factory extension works – Wexford
- Carrigaline Community School – Cork.
