'It is essential' - Mayor of Kilkenny renews appeal for completion of long awaited Ring Road
Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr Andrew McGuinness, has called for the completion of the Kilkenny Ring Road, describing it as 'essential to the future development of the city and county.'
Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr Andrew McGuinness has renewed his appeals for the completion of the Kilkenny Ring Road, describing it as ‘essential to the future development of the city and county.’
Last week, councillors in the city municipal district were briefed on progress being made on the Kilkenny City North Transport Project, which would see the Ring Road completed, is set to move to the next stage of a long-running series of projects.
Although still years away from completion, the Kilkenny City North Transport Project aims to improve connectivity across the northern area of Kilkenny City. - READ MORE HERE
In 2025, following pressure from councillors, including Cllr McGuinness, Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien committed to looking at the Ring Road project in 'great detail' at the official opening of the new Rosehill Bridge.
Minister O'Brien claimed at the event he understood the ‘importance' of the Ring Road project and the desire there is to see it completed by people locally.
Speaking at a conference on rural mobility in Kilkenny, organised by Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership and the European Rural Mobility Network, Mayor McGuinness said the completion of the Ring Road must remain a priority for Kilkenny.
“Kilkenny people have been calling for the completion of the Ring Road for far too long. It is essential to the future development of our city and county, improving connectivity, supporting businesses and relieving pressure on the city centre,” Mr McGuinness told the conference.
“Every day, people travel into Kilkenny from towns, villages and rural communities across the county for work, education, healthcare and other essential services. We need the infrastructure in place to support that movement and allow Kilkenny to continue to grow and develop.
“The completion of the Ring Road is about more than managing traffic. It is about planning for Kilkenny’s future, improving access and ensuring our city and county can reach their full potential.”
Cllr McGuinness also stressed that reliable transport is essential for promoting equality, expanding economic opportunities and sustaining rural communities.
“People should not be disadvantaged simply because of where they live. Reliable transport determines whether people can get to work, attend college, access healthcare and participate fully in their communities,” he continued.
“We want young people to remain in their local areas, families to put down roots, businesses to grow and older people to live independently. That becomes much more difficult when people cannot access essential services and opportunities.”
The Fianna Fáil councillor said completing major road infrastructure must go hand in hand with improving public transport connections throughout Kilkenny city and county and called for the expansion of local bus services and better connections between Kilkenny City, towns and villages, emphasising the importance of reliable timetables and accessible services.
“For too many people in rural areas, travelling by car is not a choice but a necessity because there are no realistic alternatives. If we want to encourage more sustainable travel, we must provide public transport services that people can depend on,” he continued.
“We need scheduled bus services, Local Link, community transport and demand-responsive services working together to connect people with employment, education, healthcare and social activities.”
Accessible and reliable transport is essential to ensuring that everyone in Kilkenny can access opportunities, the city based councillor asserted.
“The success of our efforts must ultimately be measured by real outcomes: whether a young person can get to college, whether an older person can attend a medical appointment and whether people can access employment and essential services without being held back by where they live.
“Kilkenny needs the infrastructure and transport services to support its future. Completing the Ring Road must remain a priority, alongside investment in reliable, accessible public transport that connects our city with the wider county.”