'Kilkenny is well able for anything thrown at it' - Local musician on longer pub opening hours

Local musician, Tomas Jackman, claims the city will be able to cope with longer late-night opening hours and believes any expanded night time economy should include 'staggered' closing times.

Mr Jackman's comments follow the launch of a Kilkenny County Council online public survey on the development of a 'Night Time Economy Action Plan' for Kilkenny City.

In 2022, Kilkenny was named as one of nine towns/cities across the country to receive funding as part of a pilot initiative to support the development of a vibrant and diverse 'Night-Time Economy'.

The public survey intends to give members of the public an opportunity to give feedback on the challenges and opportunities that exist for the industry locally.

Mr Jackman is excited by he possibility of such measures and thinks it could be a boost for the entire night-time scene in Kilkenny.

"I think if it does come in it’ll be good, we need a bit of a boost,” he said. “I think if people see things happening after 11pm they’ll go to it."

At present, the musician feels the system is leading to people leaving pubs and going onto the street en masse, creating trouble for the authorities and making access to taxis, fast-food outlets and other services difficult.

Mr Jackman believes the addition of a late-night club is needed as a solution to cater for night owls, adding, 'Kilkenny is well able for anything thrown at it' when asked if resources may be an issue.

Anthony Morrison, Chairman of the Kilkenny Vintners Association, is pleased to see the process under way and that various sectors of the community are being consulted.

However, Mr Morrison acknowledges a long-road lies ahead, commenting, the process is 'not even at the first step yet'.

Pick up a copy of this week's Kilkenny People newspaper for more on the story...