The 2025 KKB annual awards took place at Langton’s Ballroom on the 21st October 2025. Congratulations to all our Overall award recipients for 2025 which were all well deserved.
Overall Winner:- Private Garden awards
Liam & Geraldine O’Neill, 
Cedarwood Close
Best overall estate 2025
Melville Heights
The 2025 KKB annual awards took place at Langton’s Ballroom on the 21st October 2025. Congratulations to all our Private garden award recipients for 2025 which were all well deserved.
• Chris Metzger, Dean Kavanagh Place
• Carmel Cashin, sycamores
• Liam & Gemma MacCormack, Greenfields court
• Margaret Greene, Glendine court
• James Phelan, Walkin St.
• Denis O’Reilly, Mayfield
• Pat Hegerty, Long Meadows
• Tony MacEneaney, Lacken Drive
• Paul Kelly, Assumption Place
• Maeve O’Neill, Assumption Place
• Mark & Jennifer Kennedy Dominic St
• Eleanor Duggan, Dominic St
• Kathleen Noonan, Larchfield
• Madeleine O’Neill Elm Green
• Jimmy O’Brien, The Dell Dukesmeadow
• Mary Nolan
• Noel Frawley, Cashel Ave
• Brandon Woodgate, Cedarwood Crescent
• Assumpta Brennan, Stephen St
Anne Barber, The Sycamores
The 2025 KKB annual awards took place at Langton’s Ballroom on the 21st October 2025. Congratulations to all our Hidden Gem award recipients for 2025 which were all well deserved.
Hidden Gems
• Siobhan O’Keeffe, Nuncio rd., Larchfield
• Pauline O’Brien, Assumption Place
• Breda Lacey, Greenfields Rd
• Margaret Cahill, Cypress Grove
The 2025 KKB annual awards took place at Langton’s Ballroom on the 21st October 2025. Congratulations to all our Special award recipients for 2025 which were all well deserved.
Special awards
SOS Kilkenny Bloom school of Horticulture
Adjudicators’ remarks
“The adjudicators were very impressed with the work undertaken by the Bloom school of Horticulture over the last number of years. In particular the propagation of the wonderful plants supplied KKB for The Closh truce with nature project completed in 2024.”
Acorn project Kilkenny
Adjudicators’ remarks
“The adjudicators wish to recognise the excellent work undertaken by the Acorn project throughout Kilkenny. The results of this project can be seen in the laneways and parks of our city as acorns turn to little saplings which are then transplanted further.”
Rothe Terrace for “Love your lane” project 2025
Adjudicators’ remarks
“There is a wealth of car roads and rear laneways throughout Kilkenny city. The Adjudicators wish to recognise the excellent work being undertaken by the Rothe Terrace residents in the enhancement and development of their rear laneway.”
Market cross shopping centre, James St
Adjudicators’ remarks
“The centre management are to be complemented for the excellent work that they are undertaking to bring planting and colour into the main square at Market Cross shopping centre.”
Kilkenny Men’s Shed, Church Lane
Adjudicators’ remarks
“KKB congratulates the Men’s Shed for all of the excellent work that they are undertaking. In the last year they have produced excellent bird boxes and plant boxes which have been put to good use by KKB through out our city”
The 2025 KKB annual awards took place at Langton’s Ballroom on the 21st October 2025. Congratulations to all our Commercial award recipients for 2025 which were all well deserved.
Best Commercial Flower Display :- Whites Pharmacy, High St.,
Most improved commercial premises :- Valley of Roses, Rose Inn St.
Best Shop front :- The Gift Horse, Rose Inn St.
Best signage :- O’Gorman’s Public house, Upper John St.,
Best hospitality:- :- Tower & Castle, John St.,
The 2025 KKB annual awards took place at Langton’s Ballroom on the 21st October 2025. Congratulations to Hero of our Community and Pollinator Award recipients for 2025 which were all well deserved. We set out under the award winners for 2025.
Hero of our Community – Pat Durkan
Fitzpatrick Shield for Community Effort – Kilkenny Sub-Aqua club
Private garden pollinator – biodiversity award :- Declan MacAuley, Meadow hill
Community pollinator – biodiversity award:- Glendine Heights residential estate
City business pollinator – biodiversity award:- Abbott Ireland, Loughboy Business Park, Kilkenny
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.
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.
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
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
