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08 Jan 2026
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08 Jan 2026
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The Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Committee, from left: Cllr Maria Dollard, Fabian Gaspari, Stuart Day, Regina Byrne, Peter Bluett, Marissa Enriquez and Pat Boyd at the recent KKB awards night
Local Green Party councillor and chair of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Maria Dollard has suggested that Kilkenny’s lower ranking in the latest IBAL report may be more a case of other towns upping their game rather than Kilkenny going backwards.
Kilkenny City was rated at 17th out of 40 urban areas in the latest report. In previous years, Kilkenny has won the award on four occasions but has slipped down the rankings in the last few surveys.
“I think its not that we are dropping our standards but more that other cities and towns are upping their game and in fairness you can’t begrudge other cities and towns, their chance to shine,” said Cllr Dollard.
“Kilkenny puts huge resources behind cleaning the city and huge credit must go to the Kilkenny Area Office who do trojan work to make sure we don’t even see the worst of the littering. At weekends its all sorted by the time we are heading out for our Sunday morning walk.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS
Cllr Dollard says that Keep Kilkenny Beautiful will continue to ‘top up’ the cleaning and maintenance work of Kilkenny County council as its contribution to the collective efforts, and encourages everyone to be mindful of dropping fast food wrappers, chewing gum or coffee cups on the streets or outside people’s own front doors.
mindless
“IBAL in recent years have been visiting housing estates. Dropping litter is usually a mindless habit a person can develop,” she said.
“Whether its flicking a cigarette butt, disposable vape or a fast food wrapper. If we just think for a second and take the rubbish home or to the nearest bin, it would make a massive difference. Responsibility for litter is everyone’s and most people know the right thing is to clean up after yourself.”
Cllr Dollard said Keep Kilkenny Beautiful was looking forward to many new projects to tackle environmental pollution as well as its regular meet ups on Saturdays and Thursdays in summer.
“Anyone wishing to join in, is most welcome and can contact the Kilkenny Volunteer Centre to register for opportunities,” she said.
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