Pictures: Residents and businesses feted at the 2026 Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Awards

Local residents and businesses have been feted at the 2026 Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Awards, which took place in Langton House Hotel on Tuesday night.

Heroes of our Community - joint recipients

Kilkenny Lions Club

For their continued support every summer in helping KKB with their summer programme, ensuring Kilkenny looks its best for the annual judging of the National Tidy Towns Competition.

Post 8 IUNVA, Kilkenny

In recognition of the valuable partnership work the UN Veterans are doing with KKB in taking the rubbish collected from weekly and fortnightly litter picks and removing to the Dunmore recycling centre.

Fitzpatrick Shield for Community Effort

Robertshill Community Garden

For their tenacity and persistence in establishing the Robertshill Community Garden and for their welcoming of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful to support Tidy Towns. In recognition of this initiative KKB will be investing the proceeds of a court award of €10,000 for a lock-up unit, a solar panel to provide power onsite and the establishment of a ‘tool library’.

Private garden pollinator - biodiversity award

Antoinette Quigley, 33 St Rioch Street

For the outstanding array of bees, pollinator insects, fruit and butterflies evident on the day of the garden judging. A garden where nature has first preference and a home to pollinators right in the city centre

Community pollinator - biodiversity award

TASK Community Pollinator and Vegetable Garden

For their outstanding work in creating a safe and beautiful space for people to work, learn and find peace and tranquillity in the heart of Kilkenny City.

Community Initiative Award

Kilkenny Pitch & Putt Club

This club is held in very fond memory by a great deal of people all over the city as a source of low cost and accessible exercise in the outdoors. As the years went on, it had dwindled in numbers until a group of community spirited people got together and decided to try and breathe new life into the club and today, they have a membership of over 130 people. Today, they run tournaments and attract players from far and wide to Kilkenny, thereby providing access to low-cost activity and attracting visitors alike to enjoy the game.

Best Commercial Flower Display

Langton’s, John Street

Tynan’s Bridge House, Bateman Quay (runner up)

Lanigan’s, Rose Inn Street (runner up)

Most improved commercial premises

AriSlava, 4 Batemen Quay

Mc Sorley's, 62 John St (runner up)

Best Shopfront

Von Sandwich, 19 Parliament Street

Billy Byrnes, 39 John Street (runner up)

Traditional sign writing

Hot Needle Tattoo Studio, 3 John Street

Best hospitality – joint recipients

John Cleere, 28 Parliament Street (runner up)

Sean O'Broin, Parnell Street/James Green

Public space and city scape – Joint recipients

Kilkenny County Council Watergate Urban Park

The adjudicators were very impressed with the work undertaken by the Kilkenny County Council over the last number of years.

The fine pocket urban park and outdoor performance space has been neatly integrated into the newly refurbished Watergate theatre and adjoining Library precinct.

St Mary’s Cathedral conservation of boundary railings

The adjudicators found the work undertaken by St Mary’s parish in the cleaning, repair, re-decoration and conservation of the railings at St Mary’s Cathedral over the last number of years impressive.