Editorial: Teamwork brings some light to Kilkenny streets

Well done to all businesses who dug deep to contribute to the new Christmas lights in the city, which have the place looking its best.

The lighting is top-of-the-line in terms of sustainability, and the savings in electricity use are expected to be significant. They are also due to last for many years, and are another step forward for Kilkenny’s commitments to reducing carbon emissions.

The lights look really well and have been getting a lot of comments from visitors to the city. Some of the streets included are those sometimes bypassed by tourists rushing along the Medieval Mile; they can now be in no doubt that it’s worth a little detour for a look at what’s there.

The one hiccup was Kieran Street. Initially a ceiling of light was planned for the thoroughfare, but structural concerns arose when the lighting was mounted. This loss has been the gain for several other streets. The lights are now in place lighting up Friary Street, William Street, James Street and St Mary’s Lane.

Hopefully, Kieran Street will benefit from other measures in the meantime, and the issue can be sorted by next year.

It is really positive to see traders and the council working together to the benefit of all.

MEMORY LANE
What a great night of nostalgia for those of a certain vintage on Sunday at the Zoo/Underground reunion event.

People, some of whom hadn’t seen each other in over two decades, musicians and bands reunited for a truly special event at a packed Set Theatre.

For years, it was such an important part of the local music scene — thriving, packed with different live music acts on Sunday.

As some have observed, it was a space for many of those who didn’t always fit in to express themselves and share common interests. Congratulations to the organisers, and perhaps Andrew McGuinness makes a good point when he says that Kilkenny’s young people of today could do with a similar initiative or hub.