The Bowsing Ken

 Sullivan’s Brewing Company
- Irish Gold - Golden Ale

   In the 1902 edition of “Ireland, Industrial and Agriculture” (Brown and Nolan, Ltd, Dublin), under the chapter “The Brewing Industry in Ireland”, there is a sub-chapter entitled: “The Kilkenny Collection District.” Under this heading it is noted that: “The fourth largest Collection District [a locality for which to issue licenses and to levy taxes] is that of Kilkenny, which contains no less that ten breweries, all of which are situated in the heart of the barley-growing district. Two of these breweries are in the town of Kilkenny itself.”

The first of these breweries was the St. Francis Abbey Brewery, which was owned by by Messrs. E. Smithwick and Sons, Ltd., and reportedly opened in 1710. It was noted that although their trade was: “to a great extent confined to Kilkenny and the neighboring counties,” there was nothing to prevent them from expanding outward, owing in part to the “enormous number of drays [wagons] continuously delivering beer in wood and bottle in the surrounding districts.”
The other brewery located within the town limits of Kilkenny, and the subject of this report, was what was then known as the James-street Brewery, or sometimes as the St. James-street Brewery. As recorded, the brewery was established in 1702, by the Archdekins, to be then acquired by the Sullivan family in 1810. It was noted that brewery did a large business, in ales and stouts, in the local area, but also as far away as Belfast. The brewery also manufactured and bottled various mineral waters and hop-based bitters, as well a making malt for sale.
This bit of history presents something of a quandary when compared with the history presented by the modern Sullivan’s Brewing Company. There is some evidence that there was at least a malthouse near James Street as far back as 1656, which also could have later been the location of brewery. Reasonable evidence exists that posits there was, indeed, a malting house, and a brewery on James Street, in Kilkenny, in 1702, owned by the Archdekin family (not to be confused with archdeacon, you know, a high clergyman). A family of merchants, the Archdekins were, from what information there is, a prominent family in the area, with one Peter Archdekin (born ? - died 3 January 1586), who was the Burgess of Kilkenny. Another, James Archdekin, was recorded as the mayor of Kilkenny back in 1650.
As far as the Sullivan Family is concerned, a great article by Peter Smithwick, that appeared in the journal of the Kilkenny Archeological Society (1964), titled “The Sullivans - A Notable 19th Century Kilkenny Family,” notes that tracing the Sullivan family back beyond one William Sullivan (born circa 1750 - died 1818) is problematical. Mr Smithwick notes that there is ephemeral information recording a Daniel Sullivan, who would have possibly be William’s grandfather. More data indicates that one John Sullivan was present in Kilkenny back in 1497.

  William Sullivan was a businessman who, among other things, was a local banker, while in 1810 he became a brewer when he, and a man named Loughnan, purchased the James Street Brewery from the Archdekin family. So, the modern Sullivan chronology dating the start of their brewery back to 1702, may be true, well at least sort of. As noted, William died in 1818, the result of a concussion resulting from a fall. William, and his wife Margaret, nee Renehan, had three sons: Richard, (1797-1855) the oldest, Michael, and James. For a time, Margaret would run the brewery. Oldest brother Richard would soon assume control of the brewery, as well as running other family businesses including a tannery, a flour mill, the maltings, and farming substantial pieces of land. Richard was also very active in the local political arena. He was also somewhat of philanthropist, famously opening a free soup kitchen in the brewery to feed those who were suffering during the Famine of 1849 (the Great Potato Famine, 1845-1852). Richard was also recorded as given shelter and assistance to a number of poor tenants, who after they had voted against their landlord in a local election, had been evicted from their land.
Middle brother Micheal would go on to marry Miss Margaret Cormac, of a large family of brewers. Several of William’s grandchildren emigrated from Ireland, to destinations such as New Zealand and Canada. Youngest brother James never married, and just faded from view.
Over the ensuing years, the brewery, variously called the Kilkenny Brewery, or the Sullivan’s Brewery, was run by members of the Sullivan clan. In 1910, a corporate shuffle established the James Sullivan and Company, which owned and ran the brewery. Business must have been going well, at least well enough for the James Sullivan and Company to purchase the old, and well established brewery owned by Richard Freehan, at Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland. Due to the “defalcations” (a fancy word for committing fraud) of a clerk, Freehan’s brewery was failing. Mr. Freehan joined the board of James Sullivan and Company.
There are two versions of the demise of the Sullivan’s Brewery, one simple business, and the other a bit of legend. Concerning the first, with the passing of James Sullivan (date ?) the brewery was administered by a number of rather dubious managers, who did not do much for the business. Still, according to a Mr. H.C. Rigaud, a director within the company, the brewery was making a decent profit, paying out dividends of some 10%, until late 1913. The year 1914 saw debts rise as sales fell, some say it was because of the war, and while a slight recovery was made in 1915, by 1916, it was apparent that soon the brewery would be forcibly placed in to receivership. On 22 September 1916, such a receiver was appointed. In the 15 February 1917, issue of “The Brewers’ Journal,” there is a brief article noting that on the 16 of January, a creditor’s petition was presented in the court of a certain Mr. Justice Ashbury, calling for the “compulsory winding up of James Sullivan and Company (Kilkenny Brewery),” for what was basically unpaid debt.  Next, in the 18 March 1919, edition of “The Times” (London), there is formal notice that “pursuant to and Order of the High Court of Justice in Ireland” the receivers appointed to administer the James Sullivan and Company - Kilkenny Brewery case were now prepared to receive sealed tenders for the purchase of the brewery. This purchase would include at least seven tied public houses, as well as a barley store, a malthouse and stables. Finally, a short piece in the 15 November 1919, issue of “The Brewers’ Journal” announced that: “Messrs. E. Smithwick and Sons, Ltd., St Francis Abbey Brewery, Kilkenny, have purchased the business of Messrs. James Sullivan and Co. (Kilkenny Brewery), Ltd.” So, it was just bad management that caused the shuttering of the brewery, and Smithwicks stepped in to buy up the assets.
As a side note: With the closure of Sullivan’s Brewery, the aforementioned Richard Freehan petitioned the courts to return his old brewery back to him, stating that the Sullivan’s were simply “grabbers” that had no right to his property. The court dismissed the case.

  The second version on why Sullivan’s Brewery was closed down is a good story, which, although most likely legend, may have a ring of truth to it. As it goes, James Sullivan, who had inherited all his wealth and status from his ancestors, was more into horse racing than the brewing business. The date was August of 1918, at a horse racing venue in France, when James, vying for the attentions of a certain young lady, placed a rather large bet with a Venetian gentleman. James’ horse lost, and now he had to pay up. The amount, which must have been quite staggering, put the Sullivan’s Brewery out of business. There is no record of the reaction of the certain young lady. Some say that the amount of the bet was the brewery itself, which while a compelling idea, is probably not true. The brewery had for a couple of years been in the hands of the receiver, so James could not have wagered it away. Anyway, true or false, this does make for a great story.
So buy 1919, regardless of the cause, the Sullivan’s Brewery was no more, the assets now part of Smithwick’s. The Sullivan family, however, maintained control of the Sullivan’s trademark, although throughout most of the historic documents the brewery was usually referred to as The Kilkenny Brewery. Actually, it is not exactly certain which one - Smithwick’s and/or Sullivan’s, or perhaps both - breweries Smithwick’s kept open. Fast forward to 1965…Smithwicks, who still maintained a commercial brewery in Kilkenny, was sold to Guinness (now Diageo). In 2014, Guinness closed the brewery in Kilkenny, thus ending brewing in that city. Move further ahead to 2016, when a couple of Smithwick descendants - Paul and Dean -  decided to enter the brewing game, and after talks with Sullivan family members, resurrected what they now called the Sullivan’s Brewing Company. They establish a small brewery in Kilkenny, but the majority of their beer, especially for export, is produced at contracted breweries. Teaming up with an American by the name of Michael Meade, Sullivan’s beers have crossed the pond, and are available here in the U.S. As of 2024, there are plans in the making for building a larger brewery in Kilkenny. Stay tuned.
So for the beers…At the time of this writing, there are three ales on offer, including a stout, a red ale and a golden ale. All from the mind of master brewer Ian Hamilton. I don’t believe, at least I have not heard anything mentioned, that he used any archival recipes, perhaps from historical vault of Sullivan’s papers, if one exists, to create these beers. Perhaps these old recipes simply don’t exist. No worries, what Sullivan’s Brewing Company, and Mr. Hamilton are brewing today are fine ales. Enjoy!