mayor | Keep Kilkenny Beautiful

From left to right; At the Helix for the Super Valu Tidy Towns Awards 1918 were Mayor Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, Stuart Day (KKB), Elanine Bradshaw (KKB), Maura Geary (KKB) and Simon Walton (Senior City Engineer).

Huge congratulations to all on Kilkenny City’s performance in the 2018 Tidy Towns Competition.

In a competition made up of 833 contestants Kilkenny City amassed a total of 337 points, the third highest mark awarded in the competition and only two points behind Listowel, the overall winner. In achieving its mark Kilkenny City is one of only 49 contestants to be awarded a Gold Medal and has won the title of Tidiest Urban Centre in the South East of Ireland. In amassing it’s impressive tally of marks Kilkenny City was also awarded the Waters and Communities South East Regional Award for the extent to which invasive species have been eradicated along the Rivers Nore and Bregagh in addition to Nature and Bio-Diversity Plans that have been developed for both Rivers .

Chairman of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Peter Bluett stated that ‘ the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Committee are absolutely thrilled with the award of 337 points which represents an increase of 7 marks for Kilkenny City compared to last year’s marks total. It is recognition for the trojan work of our Committee, for the unending support we get from Kilkenny County Council, from local businesses, voluntary organisations, residents associations and individuals. For a town of our size to be only two points away from the highest mark means that Kilkenny City is up there with the best when it comes to Tidy Towns, a competition that is the essence in what community is all about.’

Speaking at the awards ceremony Mayor Peter Chap Cleere said that ‘it’s fantastic to be here today to see Kilkenny City perform so excellently again in Tidy Towns. The presentation and upkeep of our City is a key driver of the local economy and also a means by which we, as Kilkenny people, express the pride we have in our local surroundings. In congratulating Kilkenny City and KKB I would also like to express a huge vote of congratulations to Inistioge and Tullahought villages both of whom were awarded Silver Medals. In addition to their Silver Medal Tullahought had added awards to Paddy and Mary Egan who were highly commended as Tidy Towns Community heroes and the village also won a Pollinator Award. Also congratulations to Windgap Tidy Towns Group who were awarded the Endeavour Award for County Kilkenny. There were 18 applications from County Kilkenny to the Tidy Towns in 2018 and, irrespective of awards, I want to wholeheartedly commend those people who give of their time to make our County and their towns and villages a better place in which to live. They are the people who get out there and make positive things happen. Well done to you all and Thank You.’

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.

Best Private Gardens, Highly commended, St. Canice’s Parish

Dun Angus, Castlecomer road

Michael Kelly, Riverside villa, Riverside drive

Michael & Patricia Shortall, 3 Riverside Drive

Breda Slattery, 17 Meadow Hill

Best Private Gardens, Highly commended, St. John’s Parish

Ber Delaney, 6 Assumption Heights

Susanne Sheridan, 32 Glenbawn

Nuala and John Byrne, 16 Newpark Drive

Paul & Phyllis O’Callaghan, 5 Lintown Court

Best Private Gardens Highly Commended St. Mary’s Parish

Eileen Tynan 71 Old Callan road

Mary Reynolds, 10 St. Francis Terrace

Maureen Logan, 74 Dean Kavanagh place

149 St. Rioch’s St.

Best Private Gardens Highly commended, St. Patrick’s Parish

Denis Mulhall, 15 Noremount

Frank & Mary Blanch, 9 Cedarwood Close

Mary Lacey, 38 Riverview

Siobhan O’Keefe, 71 Larchfield

City Best overall private garden 2015 – Runners up

Delaney Family, 40 Richview, Castlecomer Road

Ray Mccawley, Hill View, Meadow Hill

9 Fr Delahunty Terrace, Old Callan Rd

City Best overall private garden 2015- Winner

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

Residential estate highly commended St. Patricks Parish

Deans Court, Waterford Road

Dukesmeadows, Bennettsbridge road

Residential estate highly commended St. Canices Parish

Sycamores & Aylesbury, Freshford Road

Broguemakers Hill, Greens Bridge

Residential estate highly commended St. Johns Parish

Richview, Castlecomer Road

Newpark Close

Residential estate highly commended St. Marys Parish

Dean Cavanagh Place

St. Francis Terrace

Section 4: Overall Awards

Best overall residential estates highly commended

Highly commended – larger residential estate

Lintown Hall

Robertshill, Circular Road

Talbot’s Inch Freshford Road

Highly commended – Best overall smaller, residential estate

Beechpark, Bennettsbridge road

Clarnwood, Freshford Road

Rose Hill Court, Circular Road

Winner – Best overall smaller residential estate in Kilkenny

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 “

Winner – Best overall larger residential estate in Kilkenny

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 “

Best Tidy Towns Parish in Kilkenny City in 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