Santa welcomed to Yule fest in Kilkenny by KKB

Santa arrived  at Canal square by boat from  the river Nore on the 25th November  to  great excitement. KKB were on hand  to  provide a cycle escort for Santa on his short trip to  the Parade where the Kilkenny Yulefest  Christmas  fair has commenced.

Mayors walk full of activity

Maria, KKB chairperson awaits  Santa as part of the  cycle escort

 

KKB Submission to the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan

we set out under KKB Submission to the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan:-

 

4th National Biodiversity Action Plan

Response to Draft for Public Consultation. Thank you for the opportunity to consult on the above matter. We would be grateful if the following points could be considered for future drafts.

 

Whole of government and whole of society approach

·         Effective communication and buy-in are critical to delivering the national biodiversity strategy. Increasingly, sectors like agriculture, industry and conservation are becoming more siloed and oppositional as policy and financial pressures increase and mutual understanding decreases. In order to deliver a truly ‘whole of government and whole of society approach’ all sectors of government, business and society need to be included in the delivery of the biodiversity strategy. Effective solutions to biodiversity issues can often emerge from within a community, sector or industry when engagement is meaningful and non-confrontational.

 

·         There is potential to introduce pilot projects that bring different communities and sectors together to deliver tangible on-the-ground solutions to specific issues in areas such as agriculture, energy and community development in a collaborative way. These pilot projects could be used to promote, not just the solution, but the collaborative process that delivered change and models conflict resolution strategies.

 

Biodiversity Net Gain

 

·         The Plan should set out objectives that enable each sector to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain on new plans and projects. Mandatory BNG has recently been introduced in England and Wales and adopted voluntarily in other areas and sectors. Good quality baseline information is critical to delivering and monitoring BNG along with adequate resources within the consenting authority to review applications and long-term delivery.

 

·          Planning and Development requiring planning permission should be linked to the achievement of good ecological status in associated water courses prior to planning approval and after completion of projects

 

Communities

·         Community empowerment is one of the most effective means of delivering change and is necessary for societal buy-in. Bottom-up initiatives like the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan have proven successful in harnessing community energy by undertaking  clear evidence-based, targeted actions on a very specific topic. Similar initiatives could be developed through organisations on the ground once they are adequately resourced to develop targeted strategies. This can can help avoid stagnation in the delivery of top-down policy.

 

Education and research

·         It is estimated that there is as much biodiversity below ground as above ground, but soil ecology and biodiversity is often completely overlooked, outside agricultural fertility parameters. Healthy soils are critical to food production, carbon sequestration, medical treatments and a range of other services that are beginning to be recognised. This is a growing area of research in light of both the biodiversity and climate crises and would benefit from acknowledgement and support within the NBAP.

 

·         Further emphases should be given to delivering sustainable education programmes at Junior, TY and Senior cycles to introduce ecological literacy and ensure that children and young adults have a good understanding of biodiversity issues and actions needed to protect it. Increasingly, more of us are living in urban settings and have lost connections to nature and our basic understanding of food production and other ecosystem services. There is potential to develop projects that link schools with the farming community or other individuals and groups that work with nature. While many programmes, such as Green Schools, have achieved excellent results, there is still significant potential to bring nature and sustainability into schools and the curriculum as a whole.

Resourcing and waste management

·         Food production and food waste are critical issue for biodiversity both globally and nationally. Globally we waste one-third of all food produced annually. This equates to approximately 16% of habitable land on the planet. In Ireland, we waste approximately 1 million tonnes of food per annum. By changing this one issue, we could divert the wasted land resources to biodiversity use and reduce GHG emissions from production and decomposition. The Plan clearly acknowledges the devastation impacts climate change will have on biodiversity and the irreversible effects on ecosystems. Targeted programmes to engage communities on the ground to tackle specific issues around food production and waste could be considered for support within the Plan.

 

·         An engaged society, targeted actions and adequate resources are needed to deliver an effective strategy. Funding along with people’s time and energy are all limited resources and should be spent wisely. Ineffective and wasteful spending should be identified within Departments and programmes and re-routed to bodies and programmes that can deliver. Examples of this occur in agricultural schemes where participants are financially incentivised to take actions that have no demonstrated benefits, or in some instances, they have negative effects on biodiversity. These schemes are sometimes developed without the appropriate input from relevant experts and groups that could guide a meaningful programme. In other instances, it can occur where new actions or programmes are trialled but proved ineffective, but continue to be implemented by Departments.

 

Lessons learned

·         Globally and nationally, we have failed to deliver on successive plans and actions to protect biodiversity. Our food, energy and consumption models are broken and need transformative change. Learning is an iterative process and mistakes are part of that process. It’s important that we build in effective review processes, learning from previous successes and failures and change course as required.

 

 

Congratulation to all KKB 2023 annual awards winners

Congratulations to all who received a KKB 2023 awards   at the Rivercourt Hotel  on  Monday 23rd October 2023.

 

Many thanks to our  Keynote speaker
Catrina Corr, Kilkenny CoCo cycling officer.

The event could not have  taken place without  the hard work of our volunteers and judges who helped to  make such a successful event.

For photographs of the event see Kilkenny live with following link “link to photographs of event on Kilkenny Live website”

The award winners are set out under, see also additional posts with photographs of winners:-

Hidden Gems
• Tommy Larkin,  Reade Terrace, Roberts Hill
• Lynch family, Kennyswell
• Breda Hennessey,  Upper Patrick Street
• Mary Armstrong,  Assumption Place
• Brendan Slattery,  St Kieran’s Crescent
• Mr & Mrs Bourke , Hebron Park
• Martin & Breda Cleere,  Connolly Street
• Niamh O ‘ Donoghue,  John’s Quay
• John & Pauline Purcell,  The Parade

Fitzpatrick Shield for Community Effort
Rothe house

Private garden pollinator award
Runner up
• Donal Croghan  The Fairways
Winner
• Madeleine Carroll  Beech Park

 

Community pollinator award
Glendine Estate residents association

 

City centre pollinator award (certificate)
Butler Gallery, Johns Quay

Commercial pollinator award (certificate)
Kilkenny Retail park, Loughboy

Best Commercial Flower Display

Highly commended:- Tynan’s Bridge House (certificate)                                              Winner:- Hibernian (Trophy & certificate )

Most improved commercial premises
Winner:- Bridge House, 89 John Street Lower ( Rivercourt hotel)
Highly commended:- Club House Hotel, Patrick street
Best Shop front
Winner::- Tower & Castle, 60 John Street Upper


Highly commended:- Billy Byrnes, 39 John street Upper
Best signage
Winner:- Siopa Cuinne Grincell, 9 Irishtown
Highly commended:- Murphy Bespoke Jewellers, 86 High street
Best hospitality
Winner:- Kytler’s Inn, Kieran street
Highly commended:- The Book & Coffee shop, William Street
Special award
Market Cross shopping centre (Certificate)
In recognition of IBAL judges remarks 2023
“The cleanest shopping centre this surveyor has ever seen!. There wasn’t even a cigarette butt to be seen. Some of the bins provided the opportunity to separate waste into recycling………..”

Certificate Presentation for Excellence in Environmental Service
To Kilkenny CoCo for conservation of the Shee Alms house and the Historic Well at Canal walk both completed in 2023

Private Garden awards
Highly Commended
• Breda Slattery,  Meadow Hill
• Susan Wallace, Meadow Hill
• Jacinta Burke,  Meadow Hill
• Noreen Corcoran,  Aylesbury
• Mary & Pat Walsh, Crannog, the Weir
• Ailse & Brian Barry,  Garringreen \ Whitewood
• Gill Leo The Fairways
• Maureen Mc Cormack,  Melville Heights
• Linda Sweeney,  Haltigan Terrace
• 4 Westfield Drive
• Fanaghan Barry,  Walkin Street
• Ann Tynan,  Fr. Murphy Square
• Brigid Breen,  Dean Kavanagh place
• Edward Healy, spring mount, Waterford Rd
• Denis O’ Reilly, Mayfield
• Betty Wall,  the Paddocks
• Noel Frawley,  Cashel Avenue
• Kevin Brennan,  Riverview
• Catherine Duffe, Auburn Dr. Glendine
• Michael Conroy, Dunamase, Kennyswell Road
• Maurice Roche  Clarnwood
• Ewelina Wieliezko, Lintown court
• TJ & Tim Martin,  Talbots Gate

Runner Up :- Private Garden awards
The Cuffe Family,  Dukesmeadows Avenue,

Overall Winner:- Private Garden awards (trophy)

Paddy Brennan, College Court

Residential Estates – Highly Commended

• Outrath court
• Lintown
• Newpark Lower
• Roberts Hill

Best estate runner up 2023 (trophy)

Talbots Gate, Freshford rd.

Best overall estate 2023 (trophy)

Sycamores & Aylesbury

Fantastic Result for Kilkenny City Tidy towns 2023

Congratulations to all our volunteers, community groups, businesses and Kilkenny county council on  the receipt of a fantastic result for Kilkenny city in the 2023 national tidy towns competition .

Kilkenny is the  2023 recipient of the County award, a gold medal and the South East regional award.

To see the detailed  adjudicators  report  2023 with  link on separate page to  tidy towns site press link Kilkenny City report 2023

Kilkenny received 274 point a rise of 12 points on our 2022 results. Congratulations to Ballincollig  who pipped Kilkenny by one point to win the national tidiest large urban centre 2023 and to Abbeyleix  the 2023 overall winner 2023,

A great cheer from  some of our 20k pollinator  planting challenge  &  environs saturday clean up   work groups!

Butterflies and bees at Dukesmeadows

Thanks to Lil for sharing with KKB some wonderful Summer pictures  of butterflies and bees  at Dukemeadows. The area  is a haven for wildlife  and insects located  adjacent to the river Nore  to the south east of Kilkenny City centre.

Also earlier in late May great views of insect life

 

IBAL success for Kilkenny – Cleaner than European Norms 2023

A great result for Kilkenny city achieved  in the Summer 2023 IBAL survey released 26th June 2023. Kilkenny was ranked  3rd in Ireland. congratulation to Maynooth   for a 1st in this round.

This result reflects all the hard work undertaken by all our volunteers, community groups &  organisations and  Kilkenny CoCo.

Our city report is set out under.

Kilkenny:  3rd out of 40 towns / cities surveyed.  Cleaner than European Norms

A very strong performance from Kilkenny, as we have come to expect from this tourist destination of historical note.  All of the approach roads got the top litter grade, setting the tone for the majority of the remaining sites surveyed.  Market Cross Shopping Centre was absolutely spotless, not even a cigarette butt to be seen.  The grounds of Kilkenny Castle Parklands were wonderful – a complete absence of litter throughout.  The approach to Kilkenny Castle, via The Parade was an exceptionally freshly presented and maintained environment with all aspects in excellent order. 

 

 

 Thurles Approach Road:  Grade A. (Area surveyed from ‘Welcome to Kilkenny’ signage just after Texaco filling station) A very good first impression of Kilkenny.  Minimal litter items observed.  Road surface closer to the town was new and fresh looking.

 

N10 Approach Road:  Grade A.  (up to old Dublin Road Roundabout form Harbour Road Roundabout) A freshly presented and maintained main route from the motorway.  Apart from some plastic bags, it was very good with regard to litter.

 

Kilkenny Ring Road:  Grade A.  (including Area by IMC Cinema) Freshly presented road surface / markings / signage.  All appeared in very good order; nice grass area on the right, opposite the cinema – there were no visible litter issues.

 

Mother of Fair Love School:  Grade A.  From the outside of the school, all aspects appeared in good order.  Nice area of tulips / daffodils within the school grounds and colourful planter box at the school gate.  To the side of the building there was more planting of other seeds.  It was very much deserving of the top litter grade.

 

Bring Centre at St. Canice’s:  Grade B.  Very clear and extensive signage relating to the use of this tiny facility.  Just a few bottle / can units and one clothing unit; Packaging had been very deliberately discarded in the corner location. There was also broken glass also at the base of the bins.  With a little extra care this could easily be a Grade A site.

 

Market Cross Shopping Centre:  Grade A.  The cleanest shopping centre this surveyor has ever seen!  There wasn’t even a cigarette butt to be seen.  Some of the bins provided the opportunity to separate waste into recycling.  Lovely, large planter boxes throughout, along with attractive planting underfoot at ground level.  Lovely wooden seating, some with built in planter boxes.  Complete absence of litter throughout.  Clearly a careful eye is kept on closed down premises, (of which there were plenty), as there was no litter associated with any of them.

 

High Street:  Grade A.  An exceptionally clean main shopping street with many lovely features throughout e.g., paving, seating, silver bollards, street maps, planting etc.  It was so very much deserving of the top litter grade.  There were many closed down premises, with no litter associated with them.

 

Kilkenny Castle Parkland:  Grade A.  If Grade A+ was awarded, this site would certainly be deserving of same.  A fantastic amenity which was being enjoyed by many on a sunny day towards the end of Easter holidays.  It is an extensive site, replete with outdoor café / picnic tables / playground / pond and several KM signed walking / running pathways.  It was spotless throughout, extraordinarily clean for such a vast site – a credit to the users and those responsible for the maintenance of same.  Some ‘Bees at Work’ signage in one corner site.

 

River Walk:  Grade B+.  There was no litter along the Horseleap side of the river. Some minor food and cigarette / vaping related items along the side of the river by the library. Lifebelts, paving, colourful planting etc were all in good order.   Picnic table area was clear of litter.

 

The Parade:  Grade A.  This wide expanse of road is exceptionally well served by litter bins.

Picnic tables with built in chess / drafts board; bicycle parking / Bolt Ebike scheme / Public Toilets etc. – all aspects were in excellent condition.  Excellent visitor information signage – interactive as well as various maps etc.  The whole area was very good with regard to litter.

 

 

Bioblitz 2023 at Kilkenny Castle Park & Canal walk

Celebration of National Biodiversity week in Kilkenny

The 24 hour Bioblitz aims to bring budding environmentalists together and led by experts and specialists groups to identify and record as many species as possible within the diverse habitats of Kilkenny’s Castle park and the Canal..

 

There will be a small stream citizen science species identification work shop on Friday afternoon on the canal at the whitewashed well . There will also be a tour and identification talks about the very healthy range of flora that grows on the Canal and Castles and also on the rivers habitat flora.

Also on Friday after noon there will be a guided  walk and talk about the Castle parks habitats and trees and they are now being managed in the face of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Crisis.

After Tea there will be the validation of records and the all important species count which will be followed by a Dusk Chorus and much anticipated Bat identification walk at 8.45. Moth trap setting woll also be happening in the background. Due to a large anticipated demand numbers will be restricted and booking will be through eventbrite.

Saturday Morning starts of very early for the Dawn CHORUS which is not to be missed and meet up will be at the Castle gates at 4.30am.

Following Dawn Chorus identification and recording the Moth traps will be collected and brought back to the Medieval Room for identification.

After Breakfast there will be a grass land and wildflower identification walk which will be followed by a Wild Life Safari identifying pollinators and all sorts of species.

The event will Finish up after lunch which is from 1-2pm and will be followed  by lat call for records between 2-3pm when our Bioblitz ends.

It is hoped that we might be vised by local or visiting ecologists and recorders who might drop in and help spot any gaps.

Bioblitz events enable participants to learn about different types of plants, animals and insects in their local environment. This can help to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity in the local area.

This  bioblitz event will  encourage members of the local community and other community’s to get involved in the management and improvement of their local environment.

It will also help to gather important data on the local environment, which can be used to inform future conservation efforts.

The Bioblitz events will be a fun and educational activity for people of all ages. They can help to promote a sense of community and encourage people to get involved in environmental projects.

This event aimsto support local biodiversity by identifying areas that need special attention or protection. This can help to improve the environment for wildlife and plants in the local area.

for  further information email mail@keepkilkennybeautiful.com

Www.keepkilkennybeautiful.com

24 Hour Bioblitz

Friday & Saturday26th/27 May

Kilkenny Castle Park and The Canal

 

Friday 26th

Castle Park

3.00 pm Launch at Medieval Room

3.30 pm Woodland Walk to River.   

4.00 pm Tree Walk, talk and Identification with Colm Mangan.

The Canal

3.30 – 5.30 pm Small Stream Citizen Science. Kick Sampling and invertebrate identification and other flora and fauna identification and recording.

6.00pm Dinner Break.

 7.30 pm Validation of records

8.45 pm Dusk Chorus and Bat Walk. (Eventbrite)

11.00 pm Close

Saturday 27th

4.30 am Dawn Chorus. 

6.00 am Moth Trap collection and Identification.

7.30 am Moth release and Breakfast.

 9.00am. Record Validation.

9.30am Grassland species identification and recording.

11.30am Wild Life Safari. 

1.00pm Lunch

2.00 pm Last Call for Records.

3.00pm Close and de-brief.