Why
Kilkenny

Kilkenny is the place where business succeeds. It’s perfect central location with a wide catchment area has a proven capacity to attract high calibre talent. Kilkenny is a vibrant place to live and work, steeped in history and rich in culture. It is the place where people come not only to make a living but to make a life.

Strategic central location

Immediate access to deep talent pool

Excellent quality of life

Established home for industry and innovation

Kilkenny Arts Festival

Kilkenny Castle

The heart of Kilkenny

The city is well connected with daily commuter rail services and Bus Express Services and is strategically linked to Ireland’s five other cities – Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway, thanks to quality infrastructure via road and rail.

Located in South County Kilkenny, the port at Belview is the nearest Irish multi-modal port to mainland Europe.

Abbey Quarter Kilkenny Location Map

Kilkenny boasts the closest city to Dublin and just 90 minutes from Dublin Airport via the national motorway system.

Strategic Kilkenny transport network

Facts & Figures

Population

Ireland South East Total Population
(Ireland South East Development Office, Autumn 2020)

581,615

Kilkenny City Total Population

99,232

  • 49,533 male
  • 49,699 female
(Census 2016)

Education

7,876

students in 16 Secondary Schools

3,481

Kilkenny f/t students enrolled in HEA funded institutions

6,539

Enrolments in WIT, 12% from Kilkenny
Students from Ireland South East, currently enroled in higher education include:

+5,200

Business and Finance

+3,000

Engineering, Manufacturing or Construction

+1,500

ICT

(HEA)

Childcare

10,22

Children under 6

99

Registered Childcare Services

476

Employed in the sector

Tourism

579,000

Visitors to Kilkenny 51% overseas

€94m

Estimated revenue

4,317

Bed nights

Business Activity

2,800

Rateable properties:

495

New businesses registered in 2019:

4,549

Employees in EI supported businesses
(31.12.2018)

1,257

Employees in ELO supported businesses
(31.12.2018)

711

Employees in IDA supported businesses
(31.12.2018)