Editing Kilkenny (section)

==Infrastructure==

===Education===
{{See also|Education in the Republic of Ireland}}
[[File:George Berkeley by John Smibert.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[George Berkeley]] who attended [[Kilkenny College]]]]

Kilkenny is the home of many noted secondary schools, including the Church of Ireland [[Kilkenny College]], founded in 1538. This is one of the oldest schools in the country, and its past pupils include [[Jonathan Swift]] and [[George Berkeley]].

''A quote from an article "The Berkeley Pavilion" by Patsy Dempsey&nbsp;– Bishop George Berkeley (1685–1753) was one of the great philosophers of his time. He was born near Kilkenny and lived in Dysart Castle, Thomastown. Berkeley studied at Kilkenny College (now [[County Hall, Kilkenny|County Hall]]) from 1696–1700, where Jonathan Swift was a predecessor.''
[[File:StKierans2006-07-10.jpg|thumb|[[St Kieran's College]] Kilkenny]]

[[St. Kieran's College]] was founded in 1782 and was the first Roman Catholic secondary school in Ireland. It was created after [[Grattan's Parliament]] which permitted some relaxation of the [[Penal Laws against Irish Catholics|Penal Laws]] in the country. [[St. Patrick's Industrial School, Kilkenny]] was founded in 1879, and closed in 1966. There are a number of other second-level schools, including [[Loreto Secondary School Kilkenny, Kilkenny|Loreto Secondary School]], [[CBS Kilkenny]], Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Presentation College and the Kilkenny City Vocational School. Other schools located in the rural areas of the county are Castlecomer Community School, Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown, Scoil Airigeal Ballyhale, St. Brigid's Callan, Grennan College Thomastown and Callan CBS. These also are noted for their focus on the games of hurling and camogie. Gaelscoil Osrai an Irish school in Kilkenny, is the 2nd largest Irish-only school in Ireland with around 450 from Junior Infants to 6th Class.

[[Maynooth University]] maintained a campus at the grounds of St. Kieran's College from September 1997 until June 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/kilkennycampus | publisher = Maynooth University | website = maynoothuniversity.ie | title = Kilkenny Campus | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181129001654/https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/kilkennycampus | archive-date = 2018-11-29 | access-date = 2018-11-28 | url-status = live }}</ref>  The university offered the first year of full-time arts degrees in Kilkenny, with students attending second and third year courses on the main campus in Maynooth.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kilkenny.ie/kids_life_directory/courses/kilkenny_campus | publisher = Kilkenny County Council | website = kilkenny.ie | title = Maynooth University Kilkenny Campus | date = 8 August 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171126224204/http://www.kilkenny.ie/kids_life_directory/courses/kilkenny_campus | archive-date = 2017-11-26 | access-date = 2018-11-28 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Roads===
The [[National primary road|national primary routes]] serving Kilkenny include the [[N10 road (Ireland)|N10]] (connecting to the [[M9 motorway (Ireland)|M9 motorway]] Dublin/Carlow/Waterford route), the [[N77 road (Ireland)|N77]] (connecting to Portlaoise and the [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7 motorway]]), and [[N76 road (Ireland)|N76]] (connecting to [[Clonmel]]).

===Railway===
{{See also|Rail transport in Ireland}}
[[File:Kilkenny Railway Station, 2024-03-22 01.jpg|thumb|[[Kilkenny railway station]]]]

[[Kilkenny railway station]] opened on 12 May 1848.<ref>{{cite book| first=R.V.J.| last=Butt| title=The Directory of Railway Stations| publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd| year=1995| isbn=1-85260-508-1|pages =132}}</ref> Kilkenny acquired [[railway]] links to [[Dublin]] in 1850, [[Waterford]] in 1854, [[Portlaoise]] in 1876 and [[Castlecomer]] in 1919. [[Córas Iompair Éireann]] closed the Castlecomer and Kilkenny Junction lines in 1962. Kilkenny railway station was renamed McDonagh Station in 1966 after the Irish nationalist, poet and playwright [[Thomas MacDonagh]]. Kilkenny is a stop on [[Iarnród Éireann]]'s [[Inter-city rail|Intercity]] route between Dublin and Waterford.

From Kilkenny station trains run on the [[Dublin–Waterford railway line]], providing connections in [[Waterford railway station|Waterford]] to [[Clonmel railway station|Clonmel]] and stations to [[Limerick Junction]]. At [[Kildare railway station|Kildare]] connecting trains provide links to [[Ballina railway station|Ballina]], [[Westport railway station, Mayo|Westport]], [[Galway railway station|Galway]], [[Ennis railway station|Ennis]], [[Ballybrophy railway station|Ballybrophy]], [[Nenagh railway station|Nenagh]], [[Limerick railway station|Limerick]], [[Killarney railway station|Killarney]], [[Tralee railway station|Tralee]] and [[Cork railway station|Cork]].

===Air===
[[Kilkenny Airport]] is only used for private flying. The nearest airports with scheduled services are [[Dublin Airport]] and [[Cork Airport]], which are both in the region of 150&nbsp;km away.

===Industry===
[[File:Kilkenny St. Canice's Cathedral Round Tower View to Kilkenny 10.jpg|thumb|View of Kilkenny from [[St. Canice's Cathedral]] to [[St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny|St. Mary's Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Guinness & Co. - Kilkenny Irish Red, 2019.jpg|thumb|A sign for [[Kilkenny (beer)|Kilkenny]] [[Irish red ale]] in [[Germany]]]]

The city has a history of [[brewing]] and was home to [[Smithwick's|St. Francis Abbey Brewery]] which was founded in the early 18th century by Messrs Cole and Smithwick. The Guinness Ireland Group owned this brewery since the 1960s. At the beginning of the 21st century, Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan plc to form [[Diageo]], the world's largest alcoholic beverage business, and the brewery became part of Diageo Global Supply. In its final years, [[Smithwick's Ale]] formed only a small percentage of production there. Another product was [[Kilkenny (beer)|Kilkenny ale]], a close relation of Smithwick's ale. Some 80% of the beer produced at the brewery was [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]], a brand not owned by Diageo, but produced under licence. [[Diageo]] announced in May 2008 the closure of St. Francis Abbey Brewery, which took place on 31 December 2013. Production was then moved to St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.diageo.com/en-row/NewsAndMedia/PressReleases/2008/Diageo+unveils+%E2%82%AC650&nbsp;m+brewing+investment+for+Ireland|title=Diageo Press Release|website=Diaego.com|access-date=23 September 2017}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

====Cooperatives====
Kilkenny is also home to the head offices of [[Glanbia]], one of the world's top dairy companies. Glanbia was formed by the [[merger]] of two dairy businesses: [[Avonmore (Cooperative)|Avonmore]] and Waterford Foods and has interests in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States and more than 30 other countries.

County Kilkenny Village Creameries amalgamated to create the [[Avonmore (Cooperative)|Avonmore]] Creameries brand in 1966. That coop became Avonmore Food plc in 1988 and joined with Waterford Food plc in 1997. It is today known as the global Food giant, Glanbia, one of the world's top nutrition companies, with revenues of over €3.5 billion and 5,815 employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.glanbia.com/about-us/glanbia-at-a-glance|title = Glanbia at a Glance|publisher = Glanbia Plc|access-date = 26 January 2016|archive-date = 3 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203043014/http://www.glanbia.com/about-us/glanbia-at-a-glance|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 1966 over 30 local creameries created by local farmers joined with other small rural co-operative societies throughout County Kilkenny and some neighbouring counties, and together with [[Uniq plc|Unigate]] Limited support, formed the Avonmore Creameries Federation.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.glanbia.com/about-us/our-history|title = Glanbia – Our History|website = About Us|publisher = Glanbia Plc|access-date = 25 January 2016|archive-date = 27 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160127081842/http://www.glanbia.com/about-us/our-history|url-status = live}}</ref> According to the Glanbia Collections in Kilkenny Archives at [[St Kieran's College]], Kilkenny, the Avonmore Coop brand was created through the merger of several dozen village creameries throughout County Kilkenny.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.kilkennyarchives.ie/collections/glanbia-collection/|title = Glanbia Archives|website = Kilkenny Archives|publisher = St Kieran's College, Kilkenny|access-date = 25 January 2016|archive-date = 27 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160127094032/http://www.kilkennyarchives.ie/collections/glanbia-collection/|url-status = live}}</ref> Realising the benefits of increased scale and greater diversification in the 1960s, they saw the need for an amalgamation of many small, locally focused co-operatives across Ireland. It led to the construction of a new multi-purpose Avonmore dairy plant facility in [[Ballyragget]], [[County Kilkenny]], a plant they claimed was the biggest food processing facility in Europe at that time. Today that giant global entity is known as [[Glanbia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.glanbia.com/about-us/our-history|title = Our History|publisher = Glanbia plc|access-date = 25 January 2016|archive-date = 27 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160127081842/http://www.glanbia.com/about-us/our-history|url-status = live}}</ref> Glanbia has its origins in the Irish agricultural co-operative movement that evolved over the last century, ever since first Irish Co-operative founded by [[Horace Plunkett]] in 1889. Today [[Glanbia]] has operations in 34 countries<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.glanbia.com/our-business/our-global-footprint#/world/all|title = Glanbia – Our Global Footprint|publisher = Glanbia Plc|access-date = 26 January 2016|archive-date = 3 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203052429/http://www.glanbia.com/our-business/our-global-footprint#/world/all|url-status = dead}}</ref> and is exporting to more than 100 countries worldwide. Glanbia is ranked by revenue (2010 figures) in the top 100 Cooperatives,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://ica.coop/sites/default/files/attachments/Global300%20Report%202011.pdf|title = World's major Co-operatives & Mutual Businesses|website = ICA Global 300 Report 2010|publisher = Intewrnational Cooperative Alliance|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023031/http://ica.coop/sites/default/files/attachments/Global300%20Report%202011.pdf|archive-date = 2016-03-04}}</ref> No 98 in the world and No 1 in Ireland by the [[International Co-operative Alliance]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://ica.coop/en/media/news/top-300-co-operatives-generate-usd-2-trillion|title = Top 300 co-operatives generate USD 2 trillion|website = World Cooperative Monitor|publisher = International Co-operative Alliance|access-date = 25 January 2016|archive-date = 27 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160127165449/http://ica.coop/en/media/news/top-300-co-operatives-generate-usd-2-trillion|url-status = live}}</ref> the global apex organisation of co-operatives worldwide.

The Ballyhale C.D.S. (1895–1995) 100th-anniversary booklet of its foundation records that a federation of 25 Co-op Creameries originally emerged in January 1965 under the umbrella of Avonmore Creameries Ltd., that shares were taken in the new entity by the society and that in following years a Ballyragget milk processing factory was built. Ireland entered the Common Market in 1970. The first bulk milk collection took place in 1973, when the amalgamation was formalised.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

====Other====
Recent developments in Kilkenny have attracted further investment from local businesses as well as attracting new industries. Leggetsrath Business Park was opened in 2003. There are two retail warehouse parks in Kilkenny: Kilkenny Retail Park and Ormonde Retail Park. Hebron Business Park was constructed in 2002 and is a privately owned extension to the Hebron Industrial Estate, the main centre for industry in Kilkenny.

===Hospitals===
{{See also|List of hospitals in the Republic of Ireland}}
Hospitals in Kilkenny include three public hospitals and one private hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findaddress.citizensinformation.ie/service_finder/query.py?category=Hospitals&county=Kilkenny&town=*&submit=FIND+ADDRESSES|title=Find an Address|first=CIB-Citizens Information|last=Ireland|website=Findaddress.citizensinformation.ie|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-date=22 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222140107/http://findaddress.citizensinformation.ie/service_finder/query.py?category=Hospitals&county=Kilkenny&town=*&submit=FIND+ADDRESSES|url-status=live}}</ref> [[St. Luke's General Hospital|St. Luke's]] is a general medical and surgical hospital built in 1942.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hse.ie/eng/HSE_FactFile/County_Information/Kilkenny/St%20Lukes%20General%20Hospital%20Kilkenny/St_Lukes_General_Hospital_Kilkenny.html|title=HSE Factfile on St Lukes General Hospital|website=Hse.ie|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222085259/http://www.hse.ie/eng/HSE_FactFile/County_Information/Kilkenny/St%20Lukes%20General%20Hospital%20Kilkenny/St_Lukes_General_Hospital_Kilkenny.html|archive-date=2012-02-22|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is based on Freshford Road and provides a range of local and regional services. Local services include medical, general surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics. [[St. Canice's Hospital|St. Canice's]] is a psychiatric hospital, opened in 1852 and located on the Dublin Road.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sehb.ie/services/sm-psych-hospitals.html#KILKENNY|title=South Eastern Health Board Psychiatric Hospitals|access-date=2009-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725200215/http://www.sehb.ie/services/sm-psych-hospitals.html#KILKENNY|archive-date=2009-07-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> It provides a range of mental health services including acute and long stay care, out-patient services throughout the county, addiction counselling services, respite care community hostel facilities and daycare facilities. It also provides paediatric physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. [[Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital|Kilcreene]] is the regional orthopaedic hospital outside the city in Kilcreene. [[Aut Even Hospital|Aut Even]] is a private hospital based outside Kilkenny City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mountcarmel.ie/aut_even_hospital.html |title=Aut Even Private Hospital |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727074454/http://www.mountcarmel.ie/aut_even_hospital.html |archive-date=2009-07-27 }}</ref>