Archive - Housing boom in Kilkenny (1973)

Despite the enormous number of private houses and local authority houses built in Kilkenny in the past few years, the city and environs are at present experiencing an unprecedented housing boom, with investments totalling several millions of pounds.

The biggest of the more recent developments is that of Sylvan Homes on the Freshford Road, near St Luke’s Co Hospital.

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Here, work has begun on the first 14 of an estate of 250 detached and semi-detached houses. The detached houses will sell for approximately £9,500. The semi-detached houses will be in the £6,500 to £7,000 bracket.

McInerney’s, who have already completed several housing schemes in the city are embarking on a new estate of 102 houses on the Bennettsbridge Road. Unlike previous schemes the new development will have three bedroomed semi-detached and four bedroomed detached homes. Average price is £6,000.

The Hebron Homes estate on the Castlecomer Road continues to expand and the 76 houses now completed are almost all occupied. Twenty-four houses yet to be completed will complete the scheme.

Last week Kilkenny Corporation allocated their 76 houses on the Alcock Estate in Walkin Street. Within the next few weeks the Co Council will be giving out the keys of their 120 house scheme at Newpark.

The Corporation have advertised for the construction of four new houses on Maudlin Street, a further nine houses will be built there at a later date.

The firm of Denis Treacy is putting the final touches to a 14 house scheme at Newpark and are also examining sites for a new and larger scheme.

On the Castlecomer Road work has started on 30 executive type houses, which are expected to sell at over £11,000 each.

Within the past few years housing developments in Kilkenny have included Meadow Way, Riverside Drive, Altamount Estate, Shandon Park, Beech Park and Larchfield, as well as two Treacy schemes and smaller schemes by the Corporation and Co Council.

The question now arising is for how long will it be possible to maintain the restricted area of the City Borough. It is expected that the housing boom and extension of the suburbs will once make a discussion of the Boundary extension a matter requiring urgent discussions.