Kilkenny street undergoing major transformation - here's what you need to know!

As the St Kieran's Street and Market Square Urban Enhancement Scheme advances, Acting Senior Engineer of Kilkenny Municipal District, Stan Cullen, has updated Kilkenny Live on the timeframe of the works.

"The scheme comprises a full street enhancement with new high-quality stone pavement finishes in keeping with the street’s location within the old city core, with the new pavement design clearly denoting where outdoor seating can be situated," Mr Cullen stated.

"The scheme will provide improved public realm to include seating, outdoor shelter in the form of canopies, hanging baskets and areas for planting of trees and shrubs.

"The enhancement of Market Square, or Dame Alice Yard, will provide much greater potential for congregation, recreation, outdoor dining and performance. 

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"Its design will reflect its history as a market that sold fish, butter, wool and corn through planting, the canopy design and selection and pattern of paving and other materials."

Mr Cullen further clarified that the contractor undertaking the construction works, John Cradock Ltd, "needs to excavate the street, adjust underground services as required, form a foundation and concrete slab and finally pave the street and yard with the selected materials."

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In order to facilitate public access through the works to support businesses on the street, the contractor intends to carry out the work up to and including the concrete slab on one side of the street before switching to the other side of the street to carry out the same work.

After the slab has been formed the paving stone will laid on the concrete to complete the new surface.

"To limit the duration of working outside any one building or business, the contractor will phase the work in roughly 50m long sections, progressing from the current position at An Post towards Rose Inn Street and then returning to An Post and working in the other direction towards High St," Mr Cullen confirmed, adding that the works in Dame Alice Yard are likely to commence in early summer. 

The contractor intends to progress with the concrete slab covering two phases before the paving commences to provide a degree of separation between the two construction processes to ensure the work can be carried out safely.

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It is expected that each phase will take between four and six weeks to complete.

The current programme for the work suggests that the scheme will be completed in late 2026.

According to the local authority, the enhancement scheme will "give the area a new sense of purpose, connectivity, and pedestrian flow."

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"Improving accessibility and attractiveness to locals and visitors is expected to generate higher footfall supporting increased economic activity in the area," the council added.

They concluded by stating that they are mindful, along with the contractor, of the disruption that substantial works such as these can have on the residents and businesses in the vicinity and "will continue to work with the community on the street to address issues that arise."

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