Rothe House pollinator day

A pollinator day took place at Rothe house on their garden open day in conjunction with Tanguy de Toulgoët  and coordinated by the KKB.  Tanguy  is  a bee keeper  and he  explained the art of bee keeping and the importance of pollinator plants. There was also  a honey tasting.   Information was  provided in relation to the selection of  pollinator plants  and how a garden could be made more bee friendly.

Visitors from Japan review the bee hive design which is of French/Japanese design

Visitors from Japan review the bee hive design which is of French/Japanese design

Honey tasting in Rothe garden

Honey tasting in Rothe garden

Rothe house herb garden

Rothe house herb garden

Rothe orchard, the grass is being left uncut to encourage wild flowers

Rothe orchard, the grass is being left uncut to encourage wild flowers

Tanguy de Toulgoët explains the bee hive construction.

Tanguy de Toulgoët explains the bee hive construction.

 

 

Kilkenny City is 2015 Finalist in Irish Business Against Litter survey!

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

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

High street Kilkenny

Kilkenny Railway station

Kilkenny Railway station

Community celebration in Kilkenny

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

kilkenny castle on day of presidents visit r

View of  Kilkenny Castle with the Irish Flag flying to welcome   President Higgins.

River Nore walk featured in Irish Times

The wonderful  River Nore walk between Kilkenny and Bennettsbridge was featured in the Irish Times. The trail stretches for 11 km and starts at Canal square under Kilkenny Castle. There is also a very attractive  loop and board walk  starting at Canal square. this extends   as far as the new pedestrian bridge at Ossory  Bridge  and back on the opposite river side.   This  loop which meanders through a wooded area  along the river Nore is  c.5km in length.   The City Loop was only completed in 2014 and it is already  very popular with visitors.

kilkenny castle

A start can be made  at Kilkenny castle. The walk is directly under the imposing castle.

Kilkenny 2

 

Under is a view of the  extensively wooded valley between Kilkenny castle and Ossory bridge which forms the  attractive walking loop close to the City.river nore from the Lacken Viewing point

 

European Win for Kilkenny

Congratulations to the Kilkenny based  Heritage Council’s Irish Walled Towns Network, winner of Europe’s biggest heritage award, the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards 2013. Also Congrats to  Kilkenny Archaeology  through their work on Kilkenny’s city walls.

Kilkenny city

Above: Kilkenny City Skyline  with  St Mary’s church, City Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral

Under: View of St Canices Cathedral and the round tower in Kilkenny City

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