Work continues at the Closh with the planting of 20,000 spring pollinator bulbs completed. we look forward to a colourful spring!
Start of the festive season in Kilkenny
As the evenings draw in, Yulefest 2024 kicks off on the Parade and around the City
Wonderful new mural at Francis McManus Sq
Francis Mc Manus sq., lane way link to car park. The mural was completed in cooperation with local residents, Ossory Youth and Kilkenny CoCo. We also produced a 2 minute video to the work being undertaken and a commentary click here
The detailed design work started with design workshops and the erection of posters !
Some concept pieces put together at the mural workshop included geometric shapes with repeating patterns
Getting the design right at the lane
Kilkenny City receives a gold medal in 2024 National Tidy towns awards
Kilkenny City received a gold medal in 2024 National Tidy towns awards.Kilkenny city are very proud to have received a gold medal with 381 points an increase seven points from last year. Kilkenny has received a very comprehensive adjudication report as set out under This is a confirmation by the City towns Adjudicators of all the hard work undertaken by our volunteers resident associations, voluntary groups , city citizens and Kilkenny Co Co. The dates of the adjudicators visits to our city was Tuesday the 16th July and Friday the 16th August. it is great to see that the adjudicators both toured our city by bicycle.
Congratulations to Ballincollig who received the overall National award for 2024 with 386 points.
Congratulations is also due to Inistioge, Co Kilkenny who this year received the Kilkenny county award with 383 points. (an increase of 10 points from last year.) recognising the wonderful location and all the work understand by the local committee.
Keep Kilkenny Beautiful 2024 award winners Hidden Gems and Private gardens
Hidden Gems awards ( see separate post for photographs)
• Michael Harold, 27 Butts Green
• Collette & Larry Scallan, 38 New Orchard
• Rex Francis, Apartment 20 Lintown Mews
• Marcelina, Apartment 22 Lintown Mews
• Michael Duffy 9 Fr Delahunty Terrace
• Susan Wallace, 19 Meadow Hill
• Olivia Reade 149 Walkin St.
Private Garden awards ( see separate post for photographs)
Highly Commended
• Siobhan & Paul Treacy 14 Talbot’s Inch
• Maurice Brennan, 82 Glendine Heights
• Jacinta Burke,15 Meadow Hill
• Tom & Val Rothwell,Dun Romin, Dublin Rd.,
• Liam & Jemma McCormack, 7 Greenfield Court
• Chris Metzger, 7 Dean Kavanagh place
• Ralph Kavanagh, 40 Francis Terrace
• Denis Mulhall, Darroch, Noremount
• Mark & Jennifer Kennedy, 30 Dominic St.
• Liam O’Neill & Geraldine Reardon, 4 Cedarwood Close
• Joseph & Kathleen Dempsey, 4 Fr Murphy Sq.
• Breda Lacey, 3 Greenfields Rd
• Peggy O’Toole, 8 Lacken Drive
• Joan O’Sullivan, 11 Riverview
• Elizabeth Meehan, 7 Fr Murphy Sq.
• Breda Slattery, 17 Meadow Hill
• Mary & Pat Walsh, 52 The Weir
• Margaret Lanigan, 14 Loreto Avenue
• Michael Shortall, 3 Riverside Drive
Runner Up :- Private Garden awards
Karen Mollahan 56 Fr Murphy Sq.
Overall Winner:- Private Garden awards (trophy)
Fran & Caroline Gincell, 11 Talbot’s Inch
KKB Annual Awards 2024
The KKB annual awards took place on Tuesday 29th October 2024 at Langton’s hotel, John St., Kilkenny.
Congratulations to all of the award recipients. The 2024 results were as follows :–
Hero of our Community
James Lynch, 40 Kenny’s Well Rd.
Fitzpatrick Shield for Community Effort
Kilkenny Lions Club
Private garden pollinator – biodiversity award
Runner up
Margaret Murphy, 8 Emmet street
Winner
Ciaran McGrath, Meadow Way
Community pollinator – biodiversity award
Melville Heights estate, Bennettsbrige rd
City centre pollinator – biodiversity awards
Kilkenny City VEC, New Street
OPW, Kilkenny Castle Park
Best Commercial Flower Display
Highly commended:- Samaritans, Kieran Street
Winner:- Yesterday, Patrick st
Most improved commercial premises
Highly commended:- An Post, High St.,
Winner:- The Front room , John street
Best Shop front
Highly commended:- The Book Centre, High St.
Winner:- The Blue Bar, 108 Upper Patrick’s St.
Best signage
Highly commended:- Godfrey T Greene, No. 1 Bateman quay
Winner:- J B Burke, Dublin Rd. – Upper John St.
Best hospitality
Highly commended:- Hotel Kilkenny
Winner:- The Rafter’s Gastro Pub, Friary St.
Special award
St Canice’s Cathedral – Car Park entrance gatesJudges’ remarks “the Judges were very impressed with the new gate and the sustainable work undertaken in developing the Cathedral car park.”
Kilkenny CoCo – Excellence in Environmental Service – Abbey quarter
Judges’ remarks “Congratulations to Kilkenny CoCo for their excellent work in the Abbey quarter in 2024 which included the upgrading on the river side walk & skate park area and also the opening of the very popular Mayfair library on Watergate street”
Excellence in Sustainable travel presented to Irish Rail – Junction Railway station
Judges’ remarks For consistent high standards as an important accessible entry point to our city, the presentation of which has also been recognised in the 2024 IBAL report which noted “The exterior of the station was freshly presented with car park surface, markings, paving, railings, entrance etc. in good order. There was a complete absence of litter throughout the survey area… It is clear that there is great pride in the station, based on the various awards / plaques / diplomas / items of historical interest displayed on the walls. Visitor information notices were neatly displayed beneath. Seating, tiling, station signage and litter bin were in very good condition. Overall, this was a very worthy top-ranking site.”
Kilkenny Cycling tours – Excellence in Sustainable travel To Kilkenny Cycling tours & CEO Jason Morrissey
Judges’ remarks “Congratulations to Kilkenny Cycling tours for their sustainable cycle tours. The Judges were also impressed with the electric tour bikes being recharged by a solar panel system”.
Hidden Gems awards ( see separate post for photographs)
• Michael Harold, 27 Butts Green
• Collette & Larry Scallan, 38 New Orchard
• Rex Francis, Apartment 20 Lintown Mews
• Marcelina, Apartment 22 Lintown Mews
• Michael Duffy 9 Fr Delahunty Terrace
• Susan Wallace, 19 Meadow Hill
• Olivia Reade 149 Walkin St.
Private Garden awards ( see separate post for photographs)
Highly Commended
• Siobhan & Paul Treacy 14 Talbot’s Inch
• Maurice Brennan, 82 Glendine Heights
• Jacinta Burke,15 Meadow Hill
• Tom & Val Rothwell,Dun Romin, Dublin Rd.,
• Liam & Jemma McCormack, 7 Greenfield Court
• Chris Metzger, 7 Dean Kavanagh place
• Ralph Kavanagh, 40 Francis Terrace
• Denis Mulhall, Darroch, Noremount
• Mark & Jennifer Kennedy, 30 Dominic St.
• Liam O’Neill & Geraldine Reardon, 4 Cedarwood Close
• Joseph & Kathleen Dempsey, 4 Fr Murphy Sq.
• Breda Lacey, 3 Greenfields Rd
• Peggy O’Toole, 8 Lacken Drive
• Joan O’Sullivan, 11 Riverview
• Elizabeth Meehan, 7 Fr Murphy Sq.
• Breda Slattery, 17 Meadow Hill
• Mary & Pat Walsh, 52 The Weir
• Margaret Lanigan, 14 Loreto Avenue
• Michael Shortall, 3 Riverside Drive
Runner Up :- Private Garden awards
Karen Mollahan 56 Fr Murphy Sq.
Overall Winner:- Private Garden awards (trophy)
Fran & Caroline Gincell, 11 Talbot’s Inch
Residential Estates – Highly Commended
• Glendine Heights
• Roberts Hill
• The Sycamores / Aylesbury
Best estate runner up 2024
Lakeside
Best overall estate 2024
Rose Hill Estate
Launch of the Closh Times Mural
A great KKB community event too place with the launch of the Closh Times Mural at the Closh.
The mural project was supported by KKB, CKETB, and the Kilkenny Volunteer centre. Graham Carew artist designed the mural. Keep Kilkenny Beautiful have been working with the local community over the last number of years to develop a new biodiversity garden and mural in the area. The mural depicts scenes from the rising, Civil War and more contemporary images. The launch took place as part of Heritage week 2024 in Kilkenny. St Mary’s Centre also hosted a reception following the launch. 
Arts festival adds colour to Kilkenny City
Great to tour around Kilkenny during arts festival and enjoy the many parks and venues.!
Kilkenny City No4 in latest 2024 IBAL survey
KKB congratulates all of our voluntary groups, businesses and Kilkenny CoCo and all those who have assisted in achieving our current consistent high standard in the IBAL survey!
Kilkenny: 4th out of 40 towns / cities surveyed. Cleaner than European Norms.
Kilkenny has scored very well, as we have come to expect from the former IBAL multiple-winner. It has consistently been a high-ranking town for many years. With so many top-ranking sites, some are worth mentioning. Kilkenny Train Station (Exterior and Interior) was an excellent environment and clearly one where the station staff are clearly very proud of their station. Parliament Street was an exceptionally freshly presented shopping street, with attractive paving and all elements in very good order. The Bring Facility at St Canice’s has often been littered in previous surveys – not so, this time around.
Passing of Margaret Walsh
It is with deep sadness and regret that we learned of the passing of our beloved KKB former committee member and Hon. Secretary Margaret Walsh. Margaret was the loveliest and most lighthearted person you could meet. She lifted the spirits of everyone when in her company. We were so happy she was able to attend the celebration of our KKB volunteers in the Tholsol last November.
Margaret was especially honoured at that event, with a presentation of a Lifelong Achievement Certificate from the Mayor Cllr Joe Malone. Margaret was loved by many and will be missed by all the members in KKB who knew her. May you rest at peace Margaret. Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hAnam.
Margaret (centre) receiving a Lifelong Achievement Certificate from Mayor Cllr Joe Malone on Sat 18th Nov 2023 at the Tholsol, High St., Kilkenny.
Margaret (right) with Elaine Bradshaw (left) who both received Lifelong Achievement Certificates from Mayor Cllr Joe Malone