KKB took part in the fantastic 2025 Kilkenny St Patricks day parade. supporting the new Green dog walkers initiative in Kilkenny City in conjunction with Kilkenny CoCo Environmental section
Special thanks to our Doggy unit, Tinker, Phelim and Scamp. Tails on the trail all the way and never put a paw wrong.
Congratulations to all our Volunteers, voluntary groups and Kilkenny CoCo following a great result for Kilkenny City in the IBAL litter league 2024.
We received Grade A for all the inspected sites. congratulations to Naas on receiving No.1 for 2024
An Taisce Report – IBAL Anti-Litter League, Survey 2, 2024
Kilkenny: Cleaner than European Norms. 2nd out of 40 towns / cities surveyed.
Kilkenny, a former IBAL winner, has been consistently high-ranking, and things were no different this time around. With so many top ranking sites, there are a few which deserve a special mention. Kilkenny Train Station (Exterior and Interior) is clearly a very well managed environment (all aspects were in very good condition, and it was excellent with regards to litter), Market Cross Shopping Centre and Parliament Street – the latter is a very attractively presented streetscape with some lovely features e.g. paving, seating, hanging baskets and some ‘olde’ style shop fronts.
Bring Centre, St. Canice’s Car Park: Grade A. There was a virtual absence of litter at this well presented and maintained facility. The bin units were flush with the walls to the rear, leaving little room for the ‘stuffing’ of items. Signage associated with the use of same was in good order.
Friar’s Bridge: Grade A. There was a complete absence of litter at this city centre residential environment – central garden area is a lovely feature. Railings and life-belt at river feature were in good condition.
R712 Approach Road / Castlecomer: Grade A. Overall impression cared along this route was a very good one, creating a very positive first impression of Kilkenny. Road surface, markings and signage were well presented and the autumnal trees lining the central median looked very well.
Kilkenny Train Station – Exterior: Grade A. Despite plenty of cars parked at the stage / travelling passengers, the exterior of Kilkenny Train Station was very much deserving of the top litter grade. It was excellent with regards to litter and overall presentation.
Kilkenny Train Station – Interior: Grade A. Seating, signage, litter bins were freshly presently within the station building. The station office and café were closed. There was a complete absence of litter throughout.
Parliament Street: Grade A. A long stretch of main shopping street which has been attractively laid out, with some lovely features e.g. wooden seating, hanging baskets, paving and some ‘olde’ style shop fronts. The whole street presents very well and was very much deserving of the top litter grade.
Derelict Premises beside Rothe House: Grade A. This site has been noted in previous surveys and while it wasn’t littered it presents poorly e.g. peeling paint / dangling wiring. The overall presentation is a far cry from its neighbour, Rothe House and the Court House across the road.
Market Cross Shopping Centre: Grade A. This, relatively new, shopping centre, was characterised by substantial planter boxes, wooden seating and attractive paving in the outdoor realm. All aspects were freshly presented – there were no visible litter issues throughout.
R700 Castle Approach Road: Grade A. The castle walls lined one side of this route into Kilkenny. There was one isolated area of litter on a long stretch of route. The remainder was immaculate.
N77 Durrow Approach Road: Grade A. Lush grass lined either side of this stretch of road. Grass verges were neatly cut. Very minor visible litter along this route.
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
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.
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!
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.
All are welcome to come along and support Keep Kilkenny Beautiful’s celebration of Earth Day! McDonnagh Junction, Kilkenny
There will be a range of interesting presentations, the launch of the Kilkenny Climate Hero’s Challenge, entertainment for kids, colouring, Mr Picker Pal (ask the young people, they know who he is) and free giveaways of books, bulbs and keep cups.
Young ecologists who impress might be lucky enough to get a converted magnifying glass for hunting mini beasts! All welcome to come and celebrate.
Speakers schedule for Earth Day
12:00 TD Malcom Noonan:- launch of Kilkenny Climate Hero Challenge
12:10 Nicky Brennan:- Kilkenny Age Friendly Tips from the older generation
12:20 Cllr David FitzGerald Mayor of Kilkenny City:- The Path to being first Carbon Neutral City
12:30 Break
12:40 Patrick Jackson – Picker Pals
12:50 Paddy Phelan South East Energy Agency Grants & Supports Economy
13:00 John Carley South East Energy Agency Circular
13:10 Liam O’Brien Bagenalstown SEC Journey to Energy Master Plan
13:20 Seamus Nugent Kilkenny Sport Partnership Environment & Mental Health
13:30 Fergus Horgan KLP Food Waste to Compost
13:40 Break
13:50 Pat Boyd Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Special Project Officer – Bio Bliz
14:00 Catriona Corr Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan
14:10 Marina DeCosta Sustainable Energy Communities SEC
14:20 Break
14:30 Maria Dollard Chairperson Keep Kilkenny Beautiful – Tidy Towns and SEC’s – complementary synergy towards SDG’s
14:40 Break
14:50 Mijke Jansen Barrow Valley Hub SEC Solar Panel EV Charger KLP LEADER Project
15:00 Breda Maher KCC Climate Action F
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
.
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
How about making a New Years resolution to Keep Kilkenny Beautiful and get involved with our Community in Kilkenny
Why not meet and join with our volunteers this Saturday 7th Jan at 10 am at the Kilkenny retail Park Loughboy carpark in front of Woodies. Coordinates ( 52.635366, -7.244313 ). Take part on our first clean up for the new year. Tea/Coffee and chat follows at 12.00 noon.
We look forward to seeing you, we also have a lot of other activities taking place, please also keep up to date by reviewing our facebook page or email us at mail@keepkilkennybeautiful.com . Why not join our KKB news whats app page.