County Kilkenny
Medieval streetscape and Glanbia dairy-to-nutrition headquarters—Kilkenny's heritage craft traditions and compact preservation create quality-of-life appeal for steady tourism and remote workers.
County Kilkenny preserves medieval urban fabric that few Irish towns retain—Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice's Cathedral, and streetscape create heritage tourism appeal. The Kilkenny Arts Festival and Design Centre build on craft traditions; the county positions as creative economy destination.
Agricultural hinterland supports dairy and beef; food processing creates some industrial employment. But Kilkenny's identity centers on heritage and craft rather than agriculture or manufacturing.
Glanbia, the dairy cooperative turned global nutrition company, headquartered in Kilkenny. This corporate presence creates professional employment; the company's evolution from local cooperative to multinational demonstrates Irish agricultural sector's transformation.
Kilkenny's compact scale and preservation create quality-of-life attraction for remote workers and retirees. The county demonstrates how heritage assets can anchor sustainable tourism without achieving Kerry or Clare's visitor volumes. Steady rather than spectacular describes Kilkenny's development pattern.