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

 

Launch of the Closh Times Mural

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A great KKB community event  too place with the launch of the  Closh Times Mural at  the Closh.

The mural project was supported by KKB, CKETB, and the Kilkenny Volunteer centre.  Graham Carew artist  designed the mural. Keep Kilkenny Beautiful have been working with the local community over the last number of years to develop a new biodiversity garden and mural in the area. The mural depicts scenes from the rising, Civil War and more contemporary images. The launch took place as part of Heritage week 2024 in Kilkenny. St Mary’s Centre also hosted a reception following the launch.

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.

Passing of Margaret Walsh

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It is with deep sadness and regret that we learned of the passing of our beloved KKB former committee member and Hon. Secretary  Margaret Walsh. Margaret was the loveliest and most lighthearted person you could meet. She lifted the spirits of everyone when in her company. We were so happy she was able to attend the celebration of our KKB volunteers in the Tholsol last November.

Margaret was especially honoured at that event, with a presentation of a Lifelong Achievement Certificate from the Mayor Cllr Joe Malone. Margaret was loved by many and will be missed by all the members in KKB who knew her. May you rest at peace Margaret. Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hAnam.

Margaret (centre) receiving a Lifelong Achievement Certificate from  Mayor Cllr Joe Malone on Sat 18th Nov 2023 at  the Tholsol, High St., Kilkenny.

Margaret (right)  with  Elaine Bradshaw  (left)   who both   received Lifelong Achievement Certificates from  Mayor Cllr Joe Malone

 

Kilkenny Castle park visit June bank holiday

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Kilkenny Castle park  is a wonderful place to  visit  in June  and soak up the summer sun.

Once through the  main castle gate and into the grounds there is so much to see.

Visiting the formal gardens is always a treat.

Why not be a little bit more adventurous. Take one of the rambling forest walks and also enjoy the   wild flower meadows. There has also been  extensive  new tree planting  and an oak tree nursery has been established.  The grounds are open to all (without  entry fee)  every day from early to late.

 

 

 

Kilkenny Countryside Park is open for visitors

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Kilkenny Countryside Park is open for visitors. The former Kilkenny dump has been rehabilitated as the new country Park and is open to visitors. From the city centre cycle access can be via Bleach road, there is also parking available off the bleach road, adjacent to the park entrance at Castlecomer road or alternatively parking at Dunmore church and access the park via the historic mass path.A recycle centre is located adjacent all recycle items can be returned and segregated.

New planting is ongoing and attractive seating and activity centres for both young and old and our doggy friends are provided.There is even a hurling wall protecting the great hurling tradition of Kilkenny.

Hurling wall with two sides

There area also sustainable toilet facilities. the park closes each evening the time varies depending on the time of year. there is extensive new planting.