Category Archives: Competitions

Kilkenny City receives a gold medal in 2024 National Tidy towns awards

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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

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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

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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

 

Kilkenny City No4 in latest 2024 IBAL survey

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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.

Congratulation to all KKB 2023 annual awards winners

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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

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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

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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

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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