State street staff are working to keep Kilkenny Beautiful and have joined with KKB in arranging a number of spring cleans as Kilkenny prepared for the 2022 Tidy Town competition.
Congratulation to all who recently came out for a big clean up during May .
KKB welcomes Nationwide to our beautiful city to showcase some of our many environmental and biodiversity projects currently underway.
What a treat it was to get back out and enjoy the St Patrick’s weekend here in Kilkenny. Wonderful weather and a great atmosphere.Congratulations to all who took part and for the organisation of the event. Both the Parade and Canal square were packed with visitors enjoying the music food and amusements.
The fireworks display was also fantastic.
Christmas colour and Christmas cheer from Kilkenny . Congratulations to all who worked to make Yulefest a success as part of a sustainable Kilkenny Christmas. See also the RTE Nationwide 17th December visit to Kilkenny.
Santa arrived to open the festival on a cycle powered float followed by a Cavalcade of young and old on their bicycles.The 2022 Kilkenny cat was unveiled. On the parade many of our local musicians have had the opportunity to perform to an appreciative public.The Christmas market in 2021 was particularly attractive with local producers and artists displaying their wares.
Happy Christmas 2021 from keep Kilkenny beautiful.
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Congratulations to Ennis as national winner in 2021 with 355 points. We as a tidy towns committee understand the extent of effort and commitment that was required by the hardworking Ennis committee to achieve this award. Congratulations also to Kilsheelan in the highly contested Southeast award who achieved 353 points.
Kilkenny were joint 4th overall in the national Tidytowns competition with a score of 351 points. Great credit to all our current and past volunteers for getting us up to this level , retaining our gold medal status and moving up a further 9 pts.
For our full report click here for report
the Adjudicators concluding remarks noted
Kilkenny is a beautiful historic city, and you are commended for the wonderful work you have done over the years in keeping it looking its best. We look forward to receiving your application in 2022
The second round adjudication noted ( visit date 04/09/2021)
We enjoyed The Parade Outdoor Market on the day of adjudication. It was great to see the local food markets and exhibitions on such a busy day. This area surrounding the castle was litter free and is well presented. We admired the planters on the street and hanging baskets on the lamp posts. This area also has plenty of outdoor seating
which is so functional particularly on market day. Skate Park is a significant recreational amenity in the city for all to enjoy.
We noted the provision of additional outdoor seating areas in the Market Yard and Parliament Street in addition to the bins. We are pleased to see the wildflower area at Kilkenny Castle and we noted the Windgap Hill Amenity Area with outdoor seating on the Dublin road entering the city.
The wild flowers on the KK Ring road are eye catching and colourful. We could see the work that has gone into reducing grass cutting and verge management which will benefit the pollinators. There are many shop fronts in the city centre maintained to a high standard.
We admired The World’s End and E. Connell on John Street. The Kilford Arms Hotel and Bridie’s General Store are also eye catching and presented well. We commend you on keeping the city centre litter free.
We noted the absence of litter in smaller areas also such as St. Mary’s Lane. The street signage in the city centre is of a high standard and we were impressed with the area outside of the The Left Bank. The large Roman numeral clock on the building next to ‘The Field’ is impressive in addition to the hanging planters outside The Field and AIB
on High Street.
We were pleased with the standard of the approach roads. Bennetsbridge roundabout on the Dublin road is welcoming and we liked the planters and its overall appearance.
Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to clean up st Patrick’s historic graveyard. the works included trimming back bushes and weeding the gravel path that meanders through the graveyard. the NIAH notes “A picturesque graveyard containing a collection of markers of artistic design significance exhibiting high quality stone masonry. A number of markers dating to the late seventeenth century represent an important element of the archaeological heritage of Kilkenny while serving as a reminder of the mass house, later a Catholic chapel that existed on site until the late eighteenth century”
For further information on the many historic grave stones within the grave yard see link- click here Kilkenny Archaeological society
Kilkenny continues to be clean to European norms having been placed 6th in the current IBAL survey published in October 2021. Since the receipt of the results KKB volunteers have been out in sunny weather undertaking additional work in areas mentioned as requiring attention in the report. Congratulations to all for keeping Kilkenny Beautiful.
An Taisce Report – IBAL Anti-Litter League, Round 1, 2021
Kilkenny: 6th out of 40 towns / cities surveyed. Cleaner than European Norms.
Kilkenny retains its perennial status as Cleaner than European Norms. As we have come to expect, there were no heavily littered sites. Kilkenny Train Station (Exterior and Interior) wasn’t just good with regard to litter but was very well presented and maintained – it is clearly a place of great pride, based on the various plaques / awards hanging on the wall. Other top-ranking sites of note included the River Bank, Parliament Street and Market Cross Shopping Centre. The latter was particularly well presented and maintained with the opportunity for ‘separating’ waste, attractive seating, planting and some welcoming features along the pedestrian entrance.
R712 Paulstown Approach Road: Grade A. This heavily trafficked route presented very well and there were no visible litter issues. It created a positive first impression of the town and this high standard was maintained for many of the remaining sites surveyed.
Site of ‘Tubs & Tiles’ on corner of R712: Grade B. There is no doubt that the overall presentation of this environment has improved compared to a few years ago. The wooden planter boxes around the edge looked well. The area over the low wall, which was heavily weeded within, harboured some food related items. The blue overflowing litter bin is liable to produce more litter if not addressed.
Kilkenny Train Station – Exterior: Grade A. An exceptionally well presented and maintained train station environment with all aspects in very good order. There was a complete absence of litter throughout the area surveyed.
Kilkenny Train Station – Interior: Grade A. The interior of the station was gleaming and there is clearly great pride in the station based on the various plaques / awards hanging on the wall. Seating, bins, signage were in excellent condition.
Derelict building, beside Rothe House: Grade B. This white building, with three steps and a white railing presents very poorly. While there was minimal litter in the immediate vicinity, it needs attention, especially as some parts were likely to fall down.
Bring Centre (St. Canice’s car Park): Grade B. One of the bin units was in a bad condition, the base of it was broken, the contents of which were falling out. Broken glass on the ground and other miscellaneous litter items in the immediate vicinity of the facility also brought down the litter grade.
Market Cross Shopping Centre: Grade A. The pedestrian passage-way has been colourfully adorned with an array of umbrellas above, almost sculpture like. Paving was fresh, shop fronts were in very good condition, seating and planting were in good order. Patrons have the opportunity to ‘separate’ their waste with a substantial cigarette butt collection unit to the side. The overall impression was a very positive one in terms of presentation and litter.
Parliament Street: Grade A. There was a virtual absence of litter along this busy shopping street. A well presented and cared for town centre environment.
River Bank: Grade A. This lovely waterside environment was an exceptionally well presented and maintained environment. Railings, grass, flowering arrangements were in very good condition – the whole area was spotless throughout.
Waterford Approach Road: Grade A. All appeared in good order along this route. Road surface, markings and signage were in very good condition.
The inaugural Kilkenny day event was enjoyed in bright sunshine throughout Kilkenny over the weekend. KKB had a stand on the parade. 
As part of Kilkenny Day events 2021 why not check out the colourful Cat Walk in Kilkenny. Hosted by Kilkenny Civic Trust, this is a fantastic arts trail? 19 of the 21 sculptures are photographed under. Two are still to be found!.
The 2021 CBS Green schools committee was introduced to the Kilkenny citizen science small stream macro invertebrate monitoring scheme at the river Breagagh this September. Ann Phelan regional coordinator of LAWPRO, Green schools TY coordinator Peter Mulhall, Pat Boyd chairperson KKB and Tom Turley of KKB.
The Kilkenny cityCitizen science invertebrate monitoring scheme has been undertaken over the last two years with baseline information already in place. It is therefore possible to monitor water quality on an ongoing basis.
