The sun shone brightly in Graiguenamanagh yesterday afternoon for the IPB Pride of Place judges, during a visit which began at the town’s GAA and Soccer clubs before taking the travelling party down to the packed Quayside.
Over three event-filled hours, the judges, who had visited Muckalee earlier that morning – Muckalee showcases community spirit as Pride of Place judges visit – were shown what Graigue has to offer from a sporting, civic, spiritual, cultural and tourism perspective.
Business and residents alike weighed in behind the efforts of the many clubs and organisations who interacted with the judges, officials from Kilkenny County Council and political representatives.
Sitting in his porch at Fairview, having kindly offered KCLR a glass of water just moments after our introduction, Tom Walsh (“a blow-in for the past 35 years”) said Pride of Place 2026 had provided Graiguenamangh with another “opportunity to come together and put our best foot forward – and sure hopefully we might get some kind of an award out of it”.
Tom said the town and its environs has always demonstrated a great sense of community. “What we have here isn’t in every village, town or city. The sense of community here is very strong and it shows what kind of a town Graigue is.”
The judges were treated to music throughout their afternoon in Graiguenamanagh, including an extensive repertoire by the local Men’s Shed group, the Duiske Abbey Choir performing in the stunning 13th Century Abbey along with a concluding set by Robert Grace and his father Bob at the Rowing Club.
“I am immensely proud of the choir,” said choral director Brenda Foskin, who has sung at the Abbey since her childhood and has been organist there for over 40 years.
“I’m particularly proud that, on a Thursday afternoon, the choir filled the church with music and song and it was so lovely to have both the children’s choir and adult choir performing together. It is a privilege for us to be able to continue the long tradition of music and song started by the monks over 800 years ago and we are proud and privileged to be able to continue that.”
Dennis Murphy and his wife Deborah Sullivan (from New Jersey) are enjoying a 10-day stay in Kilkenny, but have made the decision to move to Ireland permanently and will soon the proud owners of a house in Kilkenny City.
“My great-grandfather left Danesfort in 1872 to go to South Orange, New Jersey, where I was raised and, in a respect, we’re coming home,” said Dennis. “Graiguenamangh, we feel, is very much now in our neighbourhood and we came here today to appreciate the village and the beautiful countryside so we were delighted to be here for today’s event.”
Said Deborah: “It’s such a beautiful and friendly place to visit and today has been wonderful. To see the group being led by a man dressed as a monk was just fantastic. It really made me aware of the huge history that exists here.”
Carlow/Kilkenny TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere (FF), who retains an office on Main Street which he opened when elected to Kilkenny County Council, described the day as “brilliant”. He added: “The town looks absolutely fantastic, the sun is out, there’s been a huge turnout and it really feels like the whole town has come out and got fully behind this effort. It’s a pleasure to be here.”
KCLR was in Graiguenamanagh for yesterday’s judging, where Joe Fox, who led the group in monastic robes throughout the afternoon, provided the opening and closing comments in our report.
