Repair works begin at the Closh in Kilkenny City

Restoration works at the Closh in Kilkenny City have begun after the site was left in poor condition following its use as a circus venue for the Kilkenny St Patrick's Day Festival.

"Work has commenced to repair the damage to the Closh. In the next few months Keep Kilkenny Beautiful expect to be planting 400 pollinator plants and complete the mural led by the work of Volunteer Kilkenny artist Graham Carew and local residents," Cllr Maria Dollard commented.

Following the local St Patrick's Day Festival, Cllr Andrew McGuinness took to social media to highlight the destruction to The Closh.

The combination of heavy machinery and soft ground caused a lot of surface damage to the area during the time the circus spent in The Marble City.

"Circus operators that used The Closh over the weekend should never be allowed in Kilkenny again," Cllr McGuinness commented at the time.

"[They] need to make right the mess they left behind them."

Director of Services with Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler later confirmed to the Kilkenny People that the site would be fully repaired by the circus company involved.