The sun shone and the town was blooming as president Higgins formally presented Letterkenny with the overall National Tidy towns Award 2015. KKB members attended and represented Kilkenny City at the event.
President Higgins speaks to all at the event.
Official unveiling of National Award plaque
Some of the large crowd at the event enjoying the warm weather.
Kilkenny City has again been nominated as finalist and ranked third in Ireland in the 2015 IBAL Awards. Congratulations also to Longford, Dungarvan, Dun Laoghaire and Drogheda our co-finalists. We also congratulate Longford on achieving the overall award for 2015.
Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Committee wish to acknowledge all of the work which has been completed over the last year by Voluntary Groups and clubs, Residents Associations, Businesses supported by their Associations and Kilkenny County Council in relation to their help in achieving this excellent result for Kilkenny City.
This excellent result follows an unprecedented 3 overall wins by Kilkenny city in the annual survey for the years 2012 – 2014.
Canal Walk, Kilkenny
Under is the adjudicators report:
Kilkenny: ?? out of 40 towns / cities surveyed. Cleaner than European Norms.
The Kilkenny sites were excellent. Some towns manage to have the town centre sites in good order but are let down by approach roads – not so with Kilkenny. It is clear that it is a very well respected and cared for environment, particularly those areas associated with Kilkenny Castle.
Approach from Dublin: Grade A. All was in excellent condition along this road and no litter was reported.
Riverwalk by Kilkenny Castle: Grade A. A wonderfully laid out and cared for environment – it was in excellent condition and there was a complete absence of litter throughout.
High Street: Grade A. There were many ‘olde’ style shop fronts along this well presented shopping street – paving and planter boxes were in very good condition. It was spotless.
St. Kieran’s College: Grade A. The area directly outside the entrance was clear of litter and all appeared in good order in the grounds within.
Kilkenny Castle – Outside the grounds: Grade A. The Parade and surrounding area were superb. The overall presentation was excellent and it is clearly very well maintained.
Kilkenny Castle – Grounds: Grade A. Extensive grounds surround the Castle and they were in very good condition. There was a complete absence of litter in the area surveyed.
Recycle Facility: Grade B. A mix of bottle and clothing recycling – a moderately littered site – at the base of the recycle bins.
SuperValu Car Park: Grade A. All was in good order at this car park and the supermarket entrance was spotless.
Rose Inn Street: Grade A. Another excellent town centre site – well presented and freshly maintained with an absence of litter.
Kilkenny Train Station: Grade A. The train station was in good order and very well served by litter bins. There didn’t appear to be any litter.
Kilkenny – Clonmel Link Road: Grade A. This was an excellent route. It passes through two local authorities and there was no major difference between the two in terms of litter.
High street Kilkenny
Kilkenny Railway station
Clonegal was the venue for the 2015 Southeast Regional Awards. Congratulations to Clonegal for hosting a most enjoyable event. Kilkenny city received their 2015 Gold Medal award and also the County Award during the event.
Members of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful celebrate with John Dunne Clonegal Tidy Village Association Chairman following the award ceremony.
The KKB Annual Awards took place at Langton’s Hotel on the 2nd November 2015.
Best Commercial floral display
Commended: Billy Byrnes, John street
The Dylan, John street
Bollards, Kieran street
Winner O’Lanagain, Rose Inn street
Most Improved Commercial Premises
Commended: Glendine Inn, Castlecomer Road
Smithwick’s Experience, Parliament Street
Zipyard , Irishtown
Winner La Rivista, Parliament Street
Best Shop Front
Commended: Willoughby’s, High Street
Marble City Barbers, John Street
Bridie’s, John Street
Winner – Yesterdays, Patrick Street
Best Shop Signage
Commended: Lenehan’s, Castlecomer Rd.
Kilkenny Crafts, Rose Inn Street
Campion Dental, Watergate Street
Winner – The Gift Horse, Rose Inn Street
attractive hand-painted shop front in prominent location, showing that the art of sign writing is still strong in Kilkenny”
Best Kilkenny Hospitality Display
Commended: Mena House, Castlecomer Road
Kilkenny House Hotel, Freshford Road
Winner Fanad House, Bennettsbridge Road
“once again this year a very attractive floral display provides a colourful welcome to our city’s visitors “
Best Commercial Centre
Commended: Market Cross Shopping Centre
“extensive upgrading and decoration of the exterior of the centre took place over the last year improving presentation to the City”
Winner Aldi, Waterford Road
“Aldi sets a very high standard in relation to providing an attractive landscaped surrounding to their store”
Heroes in our Community
“These awards are given to people from our community who have shown leadership in their community over many years. It is through the quiet work of citizens in our community that strengthens our community spirit. The Heroes in our community awards recipients for 2015 are…
Marty Bambrick
Phylis O’Rourke
Fitzpatrick perpetual shield for Community effort
“This award is in recognition of a group from our community in Kilkenny who have tackled the problems in their community in a positive hands on way. Whether it was litter picking, cleaning and brushing; painting railing and walls and removal of Graffiti, trimming hedges, improving of the City Slips or suburban roads or giving a helping hand to Residents Associations, this group came out to work with the KKB and the Community. This year’s winner of the Fitzpatrick Perpetual shield for Community Effort is the….
“Kilkenny Presbyterian group”.
The Brendan Lawless Memorial Environmental award
In 2013 Kilkenny lost one of its most unique sons and a former Chairman of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, Brendan Lawless. Brendan is remembered for his wonderful artistic skills and his one-off hand painted signs throughout the City. In memory of Brendan, the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful committee present commendations and the 2015 award to those who have made a special effort in 2015 to Keep Kilkenny Beautiful.
Commendations:
Switzers Trust, Bennettsbridge Road Attractive garden with play spaces and sitting area for historic residential ensemble Breagagh House, Kells Road Upkeep of well maintained communal gardens St Canice’s Cathedral Attractive new interpretative signage for visitors Butler Court, Patrick street Upkeep of archway Access and Laneway off the main street St John’s Day Centre and residential units Well kept premises with inviting colourful planting
Environmental Trophy Recipient 2015 Rothe House and Gardens
“Rothe House and gardens are very special and unique. The gardens received a special award from the Communities in Bloom judges in July 2015. The gardens were also finalists in the 2015 international awards of the Communities in Bloom competition in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada where they got special mention and Kilkenny received a 5 bloom award. Rothe house and Gardens are a worthy recipient of the Brendan Lawless Memorial environmental award 2015”
Best all year round colour award 2015
This award is presented to city centre premises who make a special effort to have all year round planting floral colour. Whether it is winter or spring, autumn or summer the following recipients worked throughout the year to provide an attractive colourful presentation at their premises.
Recipients: 6 Patrick Street
The Parade House, The Parade
Kytelers Inn, Rose Inn Street.
Kilkenny Tourist Hostel, Parliament Street.
Hall of Fame Award
“The hall of Fame award is awarded in recognition of the contribution of citizens who have given their time and effort to the betterment of Kilkenny and the Tidy Towns movement.
This year’s award is granted to a person who has worked tirelessly for the improvement of Kilkenny city over many years.
The achievement of the Ibal three in a row overall award for Kilkenny and also the winning for a second time by Kilkenny of the National tidy towns award 2014 could not have been achieved without the efforts of many persons and in particular without the efforts of this year’s recipient who was Kilkenny Executive Engineer until his retirement earlier in the autumn. The Keep Kilkenny committee are honoured to present this year’s award to”….
Kieran Fitzgerald.
Parish and City wide residential Awards
Residential estate competition
The judging criteria for this competition included the following headings. The structure of the garden; Landscaping; Sustainable planting /year round planting; Annual planting/ flowers; Overall impression.
Dun Angus, Castlecomer road
Michael Kelly, Riverside villa, Riverside drive
Michael & Patricia Shortall, 3 Riverside Drive
Breda Slattery, 17 Meadow Hill
Ber Delaney, 6 Assumption Heights
Susanne Sheridan, 32 Glenbawn
Nuala and John Byrne, 16 Newpark Drive
Paul & Phyllis O’Callaghan, 5 Lintown Court
Eileen Tynan 71 Old Callan road
Mary Reynolds, 10 St. Francis Terrace
Maureen Logan, 74 Dean Kavanagh place
149 St. Rioch’s St.
Denis Mulhall, 15 Noremount
Frank & Mary Blanch, 9 Cedarwood Close
Mary Lacey, 38 Riverview
Siobhan O’Keefe, 71 Larchfield
Delaney Family, 40 Richview, Castlecomer Road
Ray Mccawley, Hill View, Meadow Hill
9 Fr Delahunty Terrace, Old Callan Rd
Noel and Caroline Carroll, 36 Hazel Grove
“this garden forms an oasis to be enjoyed, there is a variety of planting types and colours with a mixture of annuals and perennials. There is colour at ground level at medium level and in hanging baskets. The ensemble is supplemented by paved areas and sculptures and is protected by evergreen hedging. “
Residential estate competition
The judging criteria for this competition included the following headings; The Built Environment and streetscape; Landscaping; Wildlife and Natural Amenities; Tidiness & Litter Control; Sustainable Waste and Resource Management; Overall impression.
Residential estates highly commended
Deans Court, Waterford Road
Dukesmeadows, Bennettsbridge road
Sycamores & Aylesbury, Freshford Road
Broguemakers Hill, Greens Bridge
Richview, Castlecomer Road
Newpark Close
Dean Cavanagh Place
St. Francis Terrace
Section 4: Overall Awards
Best overall residential estates highly commended
Lintown Hall
Robertshill, Circular Road
Talbot’s Inch Freshford Road
Beechpark, Bennettsbridge road
Clarnwood, Freshford Road
Rose Hill Court, Circular Road
Bishop Birch Place,
“the judges were amazed by the extent of work which has been completed over the last number of years to improve the estate. There is a vibrant community. The judges found the area litter free. There are also very attractive individual houses with planted gardens and baskets and some are also recycling water using water butts. There are many incidental planted areas, a pump and trough feature in the green space and an attractive wall planting to cover walls on the entrance road. There are many trees and a large green space. Congratulations to Bishop Birch place on their efforts and the receipt of their overall award in 2015 “
Melville Heights, Bennettsbridge Rd.,
“Melville heights is located at an important entry point into the city at the Junction of the ring road and the Bennettsbridge road. There is an extensive sustainable planted bank at the entrance with many different flowers and shrubs. The estate looks after the roadside bank area which has rare orchid flowers. There are open spaces, planted areas, feature rockeries and extensive tree planting throughout the estate. In the last year there was also extensive bulb planting. The estate entrance sign bed has attractive year-round planting. It takes a lot of work to keep a large estate in such a good condition, the judges recognise the extensive efforts and work which has been undertaken on a voluntary basis by the estate, congratulations to Melville on their overall award for 2015 “
This award is an initiative by the committee of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful to encourage each of the four City parishes to focus on community spirit through well-kept neighbourhoods, painted buildings and positive community initiatives to maintain streets, estates, public spaces, gardens, community and religious sites in our City.
This award is not judged by local judges but the decision is based on the National Tidy towns adjudicators report which is available on tidytowns.ie. This award aims to encourage, support and foster greater environmental awareness at a parish community level throughout the City.
St John’s Parish
Kilkenny City is again recognised as “Cleaner than European Norms” in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) litter survey which was released at the end of August. This was the first judging in the 2015 competition which has recognised the high standards now being achieved in Ireland with 16 towns and cities achieving the “Cleaner than European Norms” standard. A second judging in this competition takes place later in 2015 and the national winner for 2015 will then be announced.
This fantastic result for Kilkenny City follows our unprecedented 3 times in a row win of this competition in 2012, 2013, 2014. The Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Committee wishes to once again thank all in Kilkenny city who have worked really hard this year to keep our City Beautiful.
Parliament street, Kilkenny
Report received:
Kilkenny: Joint 6th out of 40 towns / cities surveyed. Cleaner than European Norms.
Great care continues to be taken with the presentation and maintenance of Kilkenny. Many of the top ranking sites were in exceptionally good order e.g. High Street, Rose Inn street, Kilkenny Castle Entrance and Kilkenny Castle Grounds – a very welcoming environment for any visiting tourists.
Waterford Approach Road: Grade A. This was a remarkably clean and well presented route leading into Kilkenny. The overall impression was a very fresh one.
High Street: Grade A. There was a complete absence of litter along this shopping street. Many of the buildings were brightly / freshly painted and there were some nice ‘olde’ style shop fronts. The paving was in very good order with attractive pattern on same and flower boxes added a splash of colour.
Rose Inn Street: Grade A. This smaller shopping street had a more independent feel to it with less of the high street names. Well presented and maintained shop fronts and paving all created a very positive impression – it was spotless throughout.
Recycle Facility: Grade B. This ‘Bring Centre’ is located on the southern side of Kilkenny. It is a small facility with a mix of bottle and clothing recycle bins. A few people have been careless with filled plastic bags which have been simply left beside the bins.
St. John of God School: Grade A. All appeared in good order at this school – despite some renovations taking place.
Vocational School: Grade B. This school just missed getting the top litter grade – with a little extra care and attention this could easily be achieved.
Kilkenny Castle – Front Entrance and Environs: Grade A. This was an excellent site. The brick work / paving were spotless and very fresh in appearance. The whole area is very welcoming for any visitors.
Kilkenny Castle – Grounds: Grade A. The extensive grounds of Kilkenny Castle were in very good order. Not only was it spotless but it was also well sign-posted and the lawns / trees etc were very well kept.
Carlow Approach Road: Grade B. On leaving Kilkenny this route was clean but further out along this road there was a noticeable litter presence – not only was there food related litter but there was also some white plastic wrapping tangled in the trees / shrubbery.
Kilkenny – Clonmel Link Road: Grade A. The overall impression created along this route was a very positive one. It passes through two local authorities and there was no noticeable difference between the two.
Why not log on to RTE player to see the best of Kilkenny City! We were honoured to welcome the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins to Kilkenny for the unveiling of the National overall 2014 TidyTowns winner’s Plaque.
Wild flower meadow on river Nore.
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins visit to Kilkenny
President Michael D. Higgins visited Kilkenny on Saturday 6thJune. During his visit President Higgins unveiled a plaque to celebrate the city’s victory in the National SuperValuTidyTowns Competition 2014.
The celebration took place at Kilkenny Castle Park. Musical entertainment was provided by St Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band. for photographs of the event click here
View of Kilkenny Castle with the Irish Flag flying to welcome President Higgins.
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins to visit Kilkenny
The excitement is building in the medieval city of Kilkenny as the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful committee (KKB) , Kilkenny County Council and local residents prepare to welcome the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins on Saturday 6thJune. During his visit The President will unveil a plaque to celebrate the city’s victory in the National SuperValuTidyTowns Competition 2014.
The celebrations will kick off in Kilkenny Castle Park at 11am with entertainment provided by St Patrick’s Brass Band. The President is due to arrive at 11.30. He will meet members of the KKB committee, local residents, community representatives, delegates from Kilkenny County Council and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Everyone in our City is invited to attend Kilkenny’s Day of Celebration.
Speaking on the run up to the President’s visit Peter Bluett, Chairman of KKB expressed his satisfaction at the success of Kilkenny City. He noted that receiving the National Award was hard won and victory in the Competition was therefore even sweeter and to be savoured.
This is the second time that Kilkenny has won the overall title; the last time was in 1985. Since then the drive and determination to keep the community flourishing has remained constant. In 2014, Kilkenny scooped an impressive five awards including: National Award Winner, Irelands Tidiest Large Urban Centre Award, a Gold Medal Award, the South East Regional Award and a Best in County Award.
Speaking about the visit, Mr John Mulholland, Acting Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council noted that Kilkenny’s ongoing success in Tidy Towns is the result of great community collaboration and great team work – just like Kilkenny hurling! The overall National Tidy Towns Award is testament to the selfless efforts of the ‘Keep Kilkenny Beautiful’ Committee supported by the investment of substantial resources by Kilkenny County Council.”
For further information on the Presidential visit to Kilkenny on the 6th June click here
Gateway to Kilkenny
Following an overall win in the competition in 2013, Kilkenny City is again a finalist in the 2014 competition, the presentations take place shortly in Dublin. Congratulations to all the hard work by our Tourism sector!
Kilkenny City celebrated at Hotel Kilkenny to recognise and acknowledge all of the hard work undertaken throughout Kilkenny during the last year. The Annual Awards 2014 under many categories were presented. Our Chairman David Fitzgerald thanked all in our City who worked together as a Community to achieve for Kilkenny City the overall National Tidy Towns Award 2014 as Ireland’s Tidiest Town.
