Famous Kilkenny bar to upgrade facilities to cater for ‘new normal’

An award-winning Kilkenny bar and restaurant is looking to extend its premise and improve work conditions for its staff.

Paris Texas on Kilkenny’s High Street has made an application to Kilkenny County Council to convert an existing storage area at the back of the building into staff facilities and a modernised storage area.

The owners of Paris Texas Nirokay Ltd in the application are looking for permission to build 68m2 of “new first floor area incorporating a staff locker area, staff rest area/canteen, staff WC /showers and additional storage area for dry goods”.

The plans state 91-93 High Street is a protected structure (RPS Ref. B80) and is located in the City Centre Architectural Conservation Area.

The building is known as ‘Shee House’, a terraced four-bay, two-storey structure originally dating back to 1580. In 1928 it was partially demolished to make way for what was the Woolworths Store in Kilkenny.

A decision on the application is expected from the local authority in early April.