Kilkenny City Showcased at it's very best! 

The National Enterprise Town Awards judging delegation of Eileen Collery, Bank of Ireland; John Fitzgerald, retired Chief Executive Dublin City Council and Eddie Sheehy, retired Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council were positively overwhelmed by their visit to Kilkenny city on Monday as they spent the morning meeting community and enterprise representatives and visiting various locations throughout the city. 

The event, which commenced with a presentation in Kilkenny Castle’s Parade Tower, showcased the very best of community and enterprise within the city, and was followed by a tour of the city on the Kilkenny City Tourist train. 

After visiting the Long Room in Kilkenny Castle, the judges were taken to The Medieval Mile Museum, in St Marys Church, Kilkenny City’s newest visitor attraction where they also met Cartoon Saloon, the three time Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Emmy nominated animation studio.  

A walk down the Butterslip, through Kieran Street, into the Smithwick’s Experience, up to St. Canice’s Cathedral allowed the judges to take in the vast amount of history along the Medieval Mile. Once there, the judges were treated to a fantastic performance of traditional dance and music from the local Sudanese Group and then went on to the Good Shepherd Centre.  The delegation were provided with a summary of the ongoing work and business collaborations from the Centre accompanied by beautiful music from The Rafter Family.  

Back on board the train crossing St. Francis Bridge, they were provided with a talk on the future for the city and the vision to create a vibrant new urban quarter in the heart of the medieval city on the former Smithwick’s site, an inclusive space for an inter-generational community to work, live and play.  The group then strolled down past the Kilkenny Great  War Memorial and up to the Carnegie Library and Evan’s Home.  The Home Rule Club provided set dancing entertainment before they crossed the Lady Desart Bridge to re-board the train to return to the parade..  

The final leg of the trip took in the National Crafts and Design Gallery to visit the current exhibition ‘Crowded Thresholds’ followed by a stroll through the beautifully landscaped Butler House Gardens with closing comments in Butler House, the Dower House of Kilkenny Castle which has been associated with the Butler Family, Dukes & Earls of Ormonde who resided at Kilkenny Castle for 500 years.

The Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards is designed to recognise and reward towns where businesses and the community come together to showcase the spirit of enterprise in their local area.  Speaking at the event, Eileen Collery commented that “they were positively overwhelmed with what Kilkenny city had to offer from both a community and enterprise perspective”.  The winners will be announced at the national final which will take place in Lyrath Estate Hotel on 5th December.