The Final Draft > Women in Business Kilkenomics 8th Nov

Women in Business Kilkenomics 8th Nov

If you’re still planning your Kilkenny weekend activities for the upcoming weekend of Kilkenomics (7th - 9th November), look no further. Join us at the Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny for our special Kilkenomics event on Saturday, November 8th at 7 pm, as we celebrate Irish women’s legacy in brewing, business, and beer culture.

If you’ve experienced our Kilkenny brewery tour, you’ll know that women make up a huge proportion of our visitors and our guides, and are an integral part of beer and pub culture in Ireland. But the journey hasn’t always been smooth, and there’s a rich story to be told about the challenges and setbacks, the triumphs and progress that women in the world of brewing and beer have navigated over the years. On November 8th, our panel of experts will tell that story.

A brief history

Throughout Irish history, women played a central role in the production of beers and ales. In the early and medieval periods, brewing beer was often considered to be a domestic activity, and therefore, the role of women. These women were called alewives. They’d brew ale for their own household and for sale too, and it was a thriving cottage industry. Even our patroness, St. Brigid, was known for her brewing skills, more specifically for her miraculous ability to turn water into beer for the thirsty people of not only her own parish, but many more. Over time, as beer production grew and became more industrialised, larger breweries took over, and women’s role in the industry diminished somewhat.

Even beyond the breweries, places where pints are served have also borne witness to women’s changing roles throughout Ireland’s history. Historically, many Irish pubs were gender-segregated, with women confined to snugs or even excluded from the public bar altogether. Some publicans would refuse to serve women a full pint, offering them half pints only. Even up until the 1970s, it would not be uncommon for a woman to be asked if she was accompanied by a man before being served!

But that’s all changed, and women are reclaiming their place in Irish brewing, with many skilled female brewers and business-owners helping to reshape the craft-beer and Irish pub scene. To celebrate them, and to honour the long – and often hidden – history of women’s contributions to brewing in Ireland, we are hosting a special event.

Our Kilkenomics event

Kilkenny’s economics and comedy festival is self-described as a “curious mix of economists, comedians and big questions” that has been running annually in the city since 2015. This year, as part of the festival, we are delighted to be hosting a panel of experts for a deep dive and discussion into that oft-hidden history.

Leanne Harrington is a Digital Archivist at the Guinness Archive, bringing over a decade of experience in curating everything from medieval manuscripts to the expansive and ever-growing digital heritage of Guinness.

Dr Antonia Hart is a writer, researcher, and historian, renowned for her immense body of work on Irish women’s history.

Dr Christina Wade is a beer historian who also specialises in the hidden histories of the brewing trade — especially the role of women.

Acting as our MC, we welcome John Purcell, Chief Executive and broadcaster at KCLR 96FM.

Tickets include a warm welcome drink on arrival — enjoy a pint of Smithwick’s or a refreshing non-alcoholic alternative, served in the atmospheric Barrel Yard (weather permitting). The evening features an engaging panel discussion, delicious finger food to enjoy throughout the event, and lively entertainment with live music to round out the experience.

If you’re looking for a great Kilkenny group activity while the Kilkenomics festival is on, why not combine a tour and beer tasting with this fascinating insight into Irish women and their role in shaping brewing and beer culture as we know it today?