Kilkenny City wins 3 in a row in IBAL competition!

Kilkenny City is three in a row overall IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) winner. The KKB congratulates all who have worked together in our City to achieve this  top award for a record third time.

IBAL has again found that Kilkenny City  has reached  the highest  standards  in the country in their recent survey of 40 towns and cities through out Ireland.

Kilkenny City  received  top marks  in the  first inspection of 2014.  Following the  second inspection  Kilkenny was  short-listed with  Cavan,  Longford and Tramore for the overall 2014 award.   The Judges report is set out under.

Design centre

Design centre

On the river Nore

On the river Nore

Loughboy Park

Loughboy Park

Kilkenny: in top four  out of 40 towns / cities surveyed. Cleaner than European Norms.

 Another clean sweep for Kilkenny – one noticeable feature in Kilkenny was the general presentation of the main shopping streets – it had many independent shops / cafes rather than the usual sameness that so often pervades other towns. The sites weren’t just clear of litter but very attractively presented. As well as the shopping / streets other good sites included the River Bank and Kilkenny Railway Station – it was in pristine condition, both interior and exterior.

 N10 Waterford Approach Road: Grade A. The overall presentation of this road excellent. Road surface / markings / signage were in good order and walking / cycling paths were all very impressive.

Patrick Street: Grade A. There were lovely old buildings along this city centre street, some brightly painted, others less so. The overall impression created along this street was a positive one.

River Bank: Grade A. The river bank and immediate environs were in very good condition. The grass was neatly cut, black railings were very fresh   and the life-bets, path and ornamental trees were in good order – a top ranking site throughout.

John’s Quay: Grade A. This street is characterised by some very fine old buildings, including Carmegie Library building and some clubs. It is particularly well presented with shrubbery, trees, paving, grass etc. in excellent condition – there was a complete absence of litter.

John Street: Grade A. The individual shops were nicely presented and many had attractive signage. There was lovely brick paving along the footpath. The overall impression created here was a very positive one.

Rose Inn Street: Grade A. A busy street for both pedestrians and traffic – despite high levels of both it was clear of litter. Paving, road surface / markings, bollards etc. were all in very good order.

Kilkenny Railway Station – Interior: Grade A. A very clean and fresh looking station interior. All aspects of the area surveyed were not just clear of litter but in very good condition e.g. seating, flooring, bins etc. – excellent throughout.

Kilkenny Railway Station – Exterior: Grade A. The exterior of Kilkenny station was also excellent. The built environment was in very good order but the station staff are clearly very attentive.

Carlow Approach Road: Grade A. This site got the top litter grade, but only just. Along this road stands a McDonald’s and despite plentiful supply of bins at this site they were not always being used. The road proper was in good order.

 N76-66 Link Road – Clonmel – Portlaoise: Grade A. All seemed in good order along this old established route. It was generally a well tended site clear of litter.

 

 

 

Welcome to the South East Regional Awards 2014

Keep Kilkenny Beautiful welcome all Tidy towns  south East Regional award winners to Kilkenny  on Thursday 27th November.  The awards event is to take place this year at the Newpark Hotel which is located  on the Castlecomer road.

If you arrive early why not  drop in  to Kilkenny city centre.

The award winning  Newpark marsh wild life area is also very close by  to  Newpark hotel with an attractive private   nature walk link direct from the Hotel .

high st

Keep Kilkenny Beautiful is 2014 Environmental award finalist

business awards 2Keep Kilkenny Beautiful has received  an Environmental finalist award 2014  from Kilkenny Chamber. This is in recognition of   the work undertaken in Kilkenny City  to achieve  ” National  award as Ireland’s Tidiest town 2014″.  Ireland premier Environmental competition  had over 800 entries in 2014.

Picture John Hurley (Chamber CEO) David Fitzgerald  (KKB Chairman)  & Peter Bluett (KKB vice Chairman) receiving the Environmental finalist award 2014 certificate on behalf of the KKB.

Kilkenny chamber awards

 

Awards Night 2014

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.

awards night 2 awards night 5 awards night 7

 

 

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awards night 1

Kilkenny City comes No.1 in latest Ibal survey

Kilkenny has achieved  a No.1  result again in the latest Ibal survey .

This result  reflects the hard work put in by the City Authorities and  all our Voluntary groups over the last number of months. The assessors noted;

“Kilkenny has cemented its position as Ireland’s cleanest city –   all sites surveyed got the top litter grade. What sets Kilkenny and other continuously high ranking towns apart is not just the lack of litter but the efforts put into the presentation of the environment e.g. High Street had beautiful new paving and a couple of years ago the approach to Kilkenny Castle was redesigned. The surveyor noted that Kilkenny Train Station (Interior) was almost museum like with historical photographs / notices – a lovely feature.”

Kilkenny courthouse on Parliament street

Kilkenny courthouse on Parliament street