Bobby Kerr’s gift to Kilkenny - and why he deserves a plaque in recognition

The late Bobby Kerr snr, proprietor of Newpark Hotel, gave many gifts to Kilkenny - none more greater than the gift of Newpark Fen to the citizens of Kilkenny in the 1980s.

Newpark Fen/Marsh is a nine hectare/23 acre nature reserve and Eco Park located at Lover’s Lane in the townland of Newpark Lower, Kilkenny.

Bobby arrived in Kilkenny in 1965 when he and a small consortium bought Newpark House and Lodge at the Castlecomer Road from Alice Scott-Dove.

In 1966, he opened Kilkenny’s first Grade ‘A’ Hotel and Kilkenny City’s first new hotel in over 100 years.

Over the next 35 years he built up the establishment to a superb 135-bed offering including ballroom, leisure centre, spa, conference centre, restaurants, bars and gardens.

He provided employment for generations of so many people from the general Newpark area of the city and further afield.

He was widely recognised as a generous and caring employer.

Bobby firmly believed that one of the key ways to running a successful business was through the people which one employed.

He was also a great believer in providing top of the range hospitality facilities to his guests.

However, it is for his act of philanthropy that he will be best remembered and the unparalleled gift of Newpark Fen to the people of Kilkenny and further afield.

The Fen, which was once known as St Patrick’s Lake c.1300 and deemed to have been developed as a pleasure grounds by the Duke of Ormonde for his wife c.1600.

Bobby handed over the nature reserve to Kilkenny local authority free gratis c.1983.

Great work has been done at the Fen by the local authority since taking ownership of it with the erection of interpretative signs, tree and shrub planting, walking trails, pathways, seating and multiple use games area.

However, unfortunately, Bobby’s act of wonderful generosity has not been recognised with an official plaque to date.

The Newpark Heritage Group is hoping that Kilkenny County Council will now recognise this gift from Bobby Kerr by erecting a plaque in his memory and recognising his exceptional act of generosity.

Bobby passed away in July 2001 aged 70, but before he did his name had become synonymous with the tourism industry in Kilkenny and the South-East. He was a founder member of the Lions club in Kilkenny.

A native of Kilkee in Clare and the son of a bank manager, he donated the presidential chain of office to Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce, commissioning Kilkenny silversmith Rudolf Heltzel to make the piece.

Bobby was one of the first graduates of the Shannon School of Hotel Management and Catering. He went onto manage Jury’s Hotel in Dublin before arriving in Kilkenny.

He was involved in the founding of the teenage Kilkenny No Name Club along with Eddie Keher, Eamonn Doyle and Fr Tom Murphy.

He was also deeply involved in the Fight for Sight charity.

Bobby also contributed most generously in a very discrete manner to so many other local causes.

Bobby and his wife Moya had five children - Bobby jnr, Paul, David, Suzanne and Orla.

Bobby jnr and Suzanne followed him into the hospitality sector.

The family sold Newpark Hotel to John and Allen Flynn in 2008.

Today, Newpark Hotel stands proudly as one of Kilkenny’s finest flagship hotels in the South-East.

Presently Kilkenny County Council are carrying out remedial works at Newpark Fen/Marsh including new seated areas, resurfacing of pathways and other works.

It would be most appropriate to see a plaque erected at the entrance to The Fen and dedicated to Bobby Kerr in thanks for his magnificent philanthropic gesture of some 40 years ago.

The Newpark Heritage Group are working to this end.

For further information contact doniebutler48@gmail.com or 087-315 6359.