Key Kilkenny city building faces into new future possibilities

A key Kilkenny city building looks set for a new future.

The premises at the beginning of Mayor’s Walk, where The Parade meets Rose Inn Street, has served the local community in many ways over the years.

It’s been home to hotels, offices, banks but was acquired in 2024 by Kilkenny Industrial Development Company (KIDCo).

Since then it’s been used for a wide variety of cultural, social enterprises and community groups as well as fronting festivals including during the recent Kilkenny Arts Festival staged BarnStorm offerings for young people.

Now KIDCo has submitted a planning application to redevelop the property with an aim to include commercial and retail uses.

A variety of stakeholders are being engaged with in a bid to explore viable and sustainable long-term uses with a spokesperson telling KCLR News ‘”Plans are advancing satisfactorily and we hope to be able to make exciting public announcements in due course”.

They add; “This is a significant project with KIDCo funding the acquisition and early-stage development costs; however a range of financial support will be sought, and detailed estimates will be part of the final feasibility studies”.

It’s understood the building has a good structural frame, but the fabric of the building and services and fit-out need upgrading having not been in full-time use for several years.

KIDCo is set to resolve problems with energy efficiency, environmental conditions, accessibility with a new elevator and toilets, and constructing new facades which will be fitting for this key site in the context of Kilkenny’s design history.