Diageo Ireland announced on April 30th that it is permanently closing the award-winning Smithwick's Experience, and in doing so turns its back on its previous commitment to honour and respect 800 years of brewing history and heritage in Kilkenny.

The Smithwick's Experience enshrines the contribution of Smithwick's loyal workers for 303 years that made the brand what it is, and the closure has come as a huge shock.   Kilkenny has a vibrant and thriving tourism economy , with 315,000 overseas visitors to the city in 2019, and is is also hugely popular with domestic tourists.   The Smithwick's Experience has been a favourite attraction among visitors to the city since it opened in 2014.   Like everywhere else, tourism in Kilkenny has suffered as a result of Covid-19 but there is every reason to be confident of a return to similar visitor numbers once tourism recovers.

Having closed the St. Francis Abbey Brewery in 2011 with the loss of well over 100 jobs, including contract staff - and despite the fact that the brewery was profitable - this announcement is a hammer blow that has been accurately described as "cold and cynical" by Mayor of Kilkenny, John Coonan. The complete lack of effort by Diageo to consult with the local authority or indeed any local stakeholders exposes its corporate greed yet again, resulting in a loss that strikes at the heart of Kilkenny and shows how little it cares for or respects the brewing heritage and history of Kilkenny, that was over 800 years in the making.  Diageo committed to a "permanent recognition of the effort of employees" when it closed the brewery in 2011- this latest closure clearly reneges on that promise.

Diageo Ireland appears to see the investment in sustaining the Smithwick's Experience as a COST, when in reality it is an investment in building further long term brand equity for the Smithwicks brand, both in Ireland and in global markets, from where visitors are sure to return.  It is a short-sighted decision that not only reneges on its prior commitment to honour our city's brewing legacy, but also insults the memory and efforts of our forefathers who worked tirelessly to build the Smithwicks brand, from which Diageo Ireland continues to profit.

Please take a minute to sign this petition and let Diageo know that you don't support this decision, and to call on them to Save Smithwick's Experience Kilkenny.  Thank you for your support.

(You don't need to make the €3 donation suggested by change.org, please do share the page on your social channels and help us get as much support as possible; you may have to validate your email address but this only takes a second so please do!)

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