The pictures under show the many of our winners in the estates, residential gardens, biodiversity and hidden gem winners at KKB awards 2023
Category Archives: Competitions
KKB Commercial and environmental KKB award winners 2023
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!
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.
KKB Earth Day 2023 Celebration
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
IBAL – Kilkenny City Joint 2nd in 2022
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
Kilkenny City wins Gold in the Tidy Towns 2022
Congratulations to Trim on winning the overall award in 2022. KKB know the amount of work that is required to achieve this overall award and great credit is due to the hard-working Trim Tidy Towns committee for all their effort.
Kilkenny City received a fantastic mark of 362 a rise of 11 points on our 2021 result.Increases in points were received in community (+1), streetscape (+3), green spaces(+2), nature and diversity(+3), sustainability (+1), residential streets and housing areas ( +1).
KKB thank all from our city including Kilkenny county council, local residents associations, local businesses, our many voluntary organisations and of course our many volunteers who work together throughout the year and who have helped to contribute to this excellent result.
Link to adjudicators report for Kilkenny city on a new page Kilkenny report 2022
Under:- A view of our new Nore river side walk and tea house