KILKENNY: Something is brewing in the Marble City

Kilkenny City hasn’t been as badly affected by high-street vacancies as some other towns and cities but has seen a rise in the number of vacant commercial spaces, from 3.3% in early 2014 to 7.7% in the first quarter of this year.

A mix of indigenous shops and eating spots along with the historic layout of its core, with narrow alleyways, winding lanes, and attractive buildings — not to mention Kilkenny Castle a stone’s throw away at The Parade — all make the Marble City a popular spot for shoppers and tourists alike.

The urban area hasn’t been as badly hit by the “doughnut effect” — whereby large retail businesses migrate to the edge of town, leaving a half-empty centre — as many similar-sized towns across the country.