Kilkenny’s volunteers praised for River Nore’s litter-free status

By COLIN BARTLEY

VOLUNTEER groups and members of the public are being credited with Kilkenny’s River Nore coming out tops in an anti-litter survey.

The Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey of coastal areas and waterways found the Nore is an “excellent site” that has a “virtual absence of litter”. The River Nore received the highest accolade possible, “clean to European norms.”

The council was quick to praise all the volunteer groups, as well as the council staff who work on the river every day, and acknowledged that it was these people who picked up this award for Kilkenny.

Simon Walton, Kilkenny County Council’s Senior Engineer said the award is the result of the hard and dedicated work put in by the people of Kilkenny who bought into conserving the River Nore, as well as thework contributed by the council’s dedicated frontline staff.

Mr Walton thanked the voluntary organisations who contribute greatly to the conservation of the river with litter patrols and their involvement in projects such as Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, Kilkenny Aqua Canoe Club, Kilkenny Sub Aqua and Dragon Boats who extract rubbish that is out of reach from the riverbank.

“The work contributed by these voluntary organisations to the presentation of the river and the use they make of the river as an amenity has greatly contributed to Kilkenny receiving this recognition from IBAL.

“This award is a tribute to the works undertaken on a daily basis along the River Nore by the Council’s street cleaning staff, gardening staff and landscape maintenance staff.

“It is appropriate that their efforts in presenting the River Nore walkways to a high standard is recognised and, in turn, both the local community and visitors to Kilkenny City derive great enjoyment from the riverside amenity.”