Category Archives: Sustainability

KKB & St Patrick’s Parade 2023

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What a wonderful day for Kilkenny. What  a great parade!

Fantastic day. Despite the weather there was so much good spirits and camaraderie. So many kids along the route saying to their parents they had Picker Pals in their school.

A thank you to Picker Pals working  to raise awareness of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful  .

Thank you so much the to fantastic volunteers and their children that made the effort to come out in the bad weather and showed how tough we are and how determined to Keep Kilkenny Beautiful

👏👏👏👏👏

you are all amazing

👏👏👏👏👏

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IBAL – Kilkenny City Joint 2nd in 2022

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A fantastic result for Kilkenny City in  2022.  This is    a reflection  on the tremendous work undertaken by  our volunteers, our community, our businesses  and  Kilkenny CoCo.  Congratulations also to Naas who took the  No. 1 position in 2022.

An Taisce Report – IBAL Anti-Litter League, Survey 2, 2022
Kilkenny: Joint 2nd out of 40 towns / cities surveyed. Cleaner than European Norms.
Kilkenny is no stranger to high placement in IBAL litter league and this time around it has scored particularly well with nine out of the ten sites surveyed getting the top litter grade. Examples included the approach roads, Kilkenny Train Station (Exterior and Interior), the Main Street / Parliament Street and Market Cross Shopping Centre – there was lovely paving at the latter. The only blemish was the Recycle Bank at St. Canice’s, which was moderately littered.
N10 Approach Road: Grade A. Road surface / markings / signage were in very good order and the overall impression was of a very well presented and maintained route with no litter issues of note.
Kilkenny Train Station – Exterior: Grade A. The overall impression here as a very positive one with paving to the front of the station creating a very fresh impression. There was minimal litter, just some loose food related items and cigarette butts in the shrubs of the bushes in the garden patch and at the base of the litter bins.
Kilkenny Train Station – Interior: Grade A. A sparkling interior with spotless floor tiles, seating, litter bins and visitor information notices in very good order.
River Bank: Grade A. A lovely riverside environment which was very well presented and maintained. The pedestrian bridge was spotless. There was a virtual absence of litter along the grassy banks and associated pathways.
Derelict building by Evans Lane: Grade A. Clearly a careful eye is kept on the tall building as there was no litter directly associated with it.
Recycle Bank, St. Canice’s: Grade B. The recycle units and signage associated with the use of same were freshly presented and in good order. It wasn’t just loose litter, but items had been very deliberately discarded by the units.
Market Cross Shopping Centre: Grade A. The paving of this outdoor shopping environment was particularly attractive and creates a great impression. It was a very freshly presented and clean environment.
Main Street / Parliament Street: Grade A. This was characterised by lovely paving, planter boxes, wooden seating, stainless steel bicycle parking and some attractively presented shop-fronts. There was a virtual absence of litter throughout.
696 Freshford Approach Road: Grade A. All aspects of the area surveyed were in good order – there was no visible litter throughout.
R712 Approach Road: Grade A. (by Leggetsrath Bus. Park) A wide stretch of road with lovely tree planting along both sides. It was excellent with regard to litter, creating a very positive first impression of Kilkenny – this very high standard was sustained for all the remaining sites surveyed

Energy Expo 2022

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Keep Kilkenny Beautiful host its first ‘Energy Expo’

KKB have coordinated with  Kilkenny Sustainable Energy Community  the  2022  Kilkenny Energy Expo which is to take place  27th November 2022,   2-5pm at  St. Canice’s Community Hall, Butts Green Kilkenny.   All are welcome.

Keep Kilkenny Beautiful are running the first of what they hope we will be regular range of  events, to help people learn about how to reduce energy bills and improve the comfort of our homes.

Earlier this year as part of their work on entering the Sustainable “Doing More with Less” category in the National Tidy Towns Competition, KKB  set up the first Sustainable Energy Community in Kilkenny city. With support from the South East Energy Agency and mentor Therese Curran,  KKB have launched  the first ‘Energy Expo’ in Kilkenny, to help citizen learn how they can reduce their bills.

A number of our  KKB volunteers, who have made changes themselves, had noticed how there was a lack of accurate information about retrofitting, EV’s and other measures that can really make a difference to the bills we all face. With the support of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, the  ‘Energy Expo’ was  launched.

The aim of this event is  help people discover on a practical basis how they can save on energy by availing of grants for insulation measures or solar panels.  St Canice’s Credit Union will be on hand to explain how they can help customers to bridge any shortfall on the cost. Some citizens are entitled to a free energy upgrade and group members will be available  to advise on how to apply.

There will be some providers of services  at the event to advise people what can be done and what is involved in terms of the work and timelines. KKB Chairperson noted:-

“We will have people to chat to, who have first-hand experience taking some of these new steps, experts from SEAI to give a talk and information on how to set up your own SEC in order to avail of a free Community Energy Plan for your community”.

Come along for a chat and free information from fellow citizens about how to cut back on bills this winter on 27th Nov 2-5pm in St Canice’s Community Centre, Butts Green, Kilkenny.

 

Savour Kilkenny 2022

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Savour Kilkenny  has been attracting many visitors  notwithstanding the changeable weather this year. This is an official green festival through waste minimisation and also increasing  environmental awareness for stall holders and the many visitors  attending  the festival this year. Stall holders as part of the Festival Green charter have  pledged to minimise waste and reduce water and energy consumption.

Local apples are being  pressed. there was   great crop of fruit this year in Kilkenny

Congratulations to St Brigid’s camogie Club Kilmanagh who have volunteers to assist with Keeping Kilkenny Beautiful during the event

Bolt electric bikes are now available for rent  through out our city

 

 

Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Awards 2022

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A very successful Annual Awards took place at the  Rivercourt  Hotel on John street on  the 18th October 2022.  A large attendance celebrated the best of Kilkenny.   Pat Boyd our Chairperson  welcomed  all. Our  keynote  speaker was Malcolm Noonan TD Minister of State – Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. Our theme was “Biodiversity at the heart of Climate Change”

Some of the large attendance.

The 2022 results were as follows:-

 

The Entrepreneur award : Kilkenny Cycle Tours

Hidden Gems award winners:-

Antoinette Quigley, Rioch St

Ms  Gulnahar Qureshi, St Kieran’s Crescent

Delia Lowery, Nore Therapies,  William St

James Lawlor,  Glendine Heights

Lynch Family, Kennyswell  Rd

 

Kilkenny Hero:-     Pat O’Donnell

Fitzpatrick Shield for  Community Effort:- St Johns Priory,  John st.

Private garden pollinator award:- Judy & Jimmy Rhatigan, Riverside Drive

Community pollinator award:- Melville Heights,  Bennettsbridge Road

Best Commercial Flower Display     

Winner:- Langton’s, John Street     Highly commended:- Biodecus, James  Green

Most improved commercial premises

Winner:- Paris Texas, Mary’s Lane

Highly commended:- Lenehan’s  Barrack St/Castlecomer Rd

 

 Best Shop front

Winner:- Haven, John O’Connell’s Pharmacy. Rose Inn Street

Highly commended:- Iris,  Parliament street

 

Best signage

Winner:- Brennan’s Bottling Hall, Walkin Street

Highly commended:-Tynan’s Bridge House bar, Bateman Quay

 

Best hospitality:-

Winner:- Newpark Hotel, Castlecomer road

Highly commended:-Fanad house,  Bennettsbridge Road

Private Garden awards      

 Highly Commended :- 

Heather & Pat Wood, Pearse St.

Liam McCormack, Greenfield Court

Mary & Noel Deevey,  Riverside Drive

Pat &  Michael Shortall, Riverside Drive

F Barry,  Walkin street

Maurice Brennan, Glendine Heights

Una Thornton, Larchfield

John Lacey. Riverview

Ena Duffy,  Fr Delahaunty Tce.

Joan O’Sullivan, Riverview

Dave Ryan, New Building Lane

Karen  Bradley Monaghan, Fr Murphy Square

Catherine Duff,   Glendine Heights

Joyce Nolan. Old Callan Rd.

Joe Maher, Edenvale Close

Noel Frawley,  Cashel Avenue

Canice & Maura Hickey,  Newpark Lower

John Butler,  Glendine Heights

Mary Prendergast,  Walkin street

 

Overall  Winner:-  Private Garden awards:- Tony Hayes, Glendine Heights

Runner Up :- Private Garden awards:- Brigid Breen, Dean Kavanagh Place

Residential Estates –  Highly Commended:- 

Millennium Court

Hebron Park

Dukesmeadows

Lakeside

Clarnwood

Sycamores /Aylesbury

De la Salle place,

Rosehill

Cashel Downs

 

Best larger & smaller  estates:-

 Winner:- Old Newpark   Winner:-  Glendine Heights.

Runner up:- Robertshill   Runner up:-  St  Kieran’s Crescent

 

Litter Pick Champion’s Award:-  Kilkenny Lions Club

 

Most Sustainable Business Award:- The Cutting Veg, Ormonde street

Outdoor Education Award:- The Acorn Project – Maire Ni Braoinan

Sustainable Travel Activism Award:- Sean O’hArgain

Award for  Excellence in Environmental Service

Kilkenny Co Co  Streetscape maintenance crew

Kilkenny Street of the Year  Award

Ormonde St

“During  2022 Ormonde Street  extensive  upgrade  undertaken by Kilkenny Co Co   has excelled.  The business premises on the street have also played their part   in presenting  an attractive  newly  upgraded city centre  Street.”