New academy for Jewellery and Goldsmithing Centre of Excellence opens in Thomastown

A new Academy of Jewellery and Goldsmithing Centre of Excellence has been opened in Thomastown by the Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys.

The Sessions House building, a former Courthouse in the centre of Thomastown has been transformed into a new home for the jewellery academy.

This project, funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, together with a contribution from the LEADER Programme through Kilkenny Leader Partnership and match funding from Kilkenny County Council has been delivered at an overall cost of €1.5 million demonstrating a significant investment in the creative sector and in Thomastown.

The investment from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has also supported public realm improvements and the provision of an accessible carpark in the town consistent with the Our Rural Future objectives of attracting more visitors, shoppers and investors into rural towns.

In 2019, Kilkenny County Council were successful in securing funding for the refurbishment of the iconic Session House building, formerly Thomastown Courthouse, on Logan Street, Thomastown from the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund. 

It has been a longstanding objective of both Community and Arts groups in Thomastown and of the Local Authority to refurbish and repurpose this building to secure its active future for many years to come. 

In keeping with the inherent creative and design culture in Thomastown, Kilkenny County Council sought a partner to sustainably operate the building as a successful creative space.

The Design and Craft Council Ireland, based in Kilkenny City, with a strong presence also in Thomastown, agreed to move forward with the development of a Jewellery Centre of Excellence at Sessions House.

This development represents a commitment to supporting and promoting the progression of new creative talent, to employment in the creative sector. Sessions House will accommodate the Jewellery & Goldsmithing on-site campus, previously located at Castle Yard Kilkenny.

These courses have attained Level 8 accreditation from Atlantic Technical University (ATU) in partnership with DCCI representing a significant move forward with the provision of Third Level Education in Kilkenny. 

Kilkenny County Council has partnered with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and Kilkenny LEADER Partnership to deliver this project which will renovate and repurpose a heritage structure for use by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland to facilitate the relocation and expansion of the existing Centre of Excellence in Jewellery and Goldsmithing currently located in Castle Yard, Kilkenny City.

The Centre of Excellence will provide educational opportunities for the jewellery sector providing facilities for full-time students and industry specific short courses. The centre will also provide space for Designers in residency, incubator spaces and a gallery space accessible to the public.

“What a fantastic occasion this is – I’m really delighted to be with you all here today for the official opening of The Academy of Jewellery and Goldsmithing Centre of Excellence at Sessions House," Minister Humphreys said.

“Today really is a celebration of the strong and vibrant creative and design culture that exists here in Kilkenny. And I know that this new Academy really will strengthen both Thomastown and indeed the entire South East Region as a centre for creative and vibrant cultural activity.

“I’m really delighted that, under my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and LEADER Programme, to be able to support this project with an investment of €1.2 million. And thanks to the support of Kilkenny County Council and the Design and Craft Council of Ireland, we are today officially opening a €1.75 million euro project overall.”

While in Thomastown, the Minister also paid a visit to the Thomastown Community Centre. The Community Centre will be redeveloped into a new modern library. The project was allocated funding of over €2.5 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in 2021.