The Butts town team held an end of summer party for the Community on Sunday the 21st of September. The event was held in the Community House at 19 Pearse Street. This house is part of the Butts regeneration plan for the community. Marie Smith, community liaison officer, works from this space where members of the community can call into her anytime. Plans for the regeneration of the community are on display there and can be viewed by all.
The event was well attended by all ages, and with many activities it proved to be a fun day. They were blessed with the glorious weather, and maybe with the arrival of Fr Willie Purcell and Bishop Niall Coll to the community event the sun was guaranteed.
Commitment
Also in attendance was Mayor John Coonan who dropped down for a ‘cuppa’ and a chat. John had attended one of community engagement planning events and he acknowledged the great work taking place by the Butts town team and the community. The Kilkenny Observer sat down with Kilkenny Mayor John Coonan who told us that as Mayor of Kilkenny he was delighted to voice his strong support for the Butts Area Regeneration Project. According to the councillor “This initiative is a cornerstone of our commitment to building a more vibrant and inclusive Kilkenny for everyone.”
The Mayor went on to say “This project represents a crucial investment in our community, funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. We are working closely with dedicated individuals like Annette Fitzpatrick, Senior Executive Officer of the Regeneration Office, and Marie Smyth, our Liaison Officer for local residents and projects, who are instrumental in bringing this vision to life.”
Mayor Coonan said that Kilkenny County Council are dedicated to ensuring this is a collaborative effort, with community input guiding every step of the process. “This is more than just a regeneration project,” said John, “it’s a testament to our shared vision for a city that honours its heritage while embracing a modern and sustainable future.” The Mayor concluded by saying that he looked forward to seeing the positive and lasting impact this will have on the area and on Kilkenny as a whole.
Speaking to the Observer, Paul Clifford praised the interest Mayor Coonan had shown to date and said that the Community were delighted with the Mayor’s interaction.
There was face painting, which the children loved, and queued patiently for their turn. Also on the day there was art and crafts, horseshoe throwing, and ball in the barrel.
Praise from Bishop
Speaking to The Kilkenny Observer, Bishop Niall Coll was full of praise for the St Canice’s parishioners.
“I was delighted to attend a lovely celebration of neighbourliness and friendship in the Butts. Anything which promotes a genuine sense of belonging and accompaniment in a community is to be encouraged,” said Bishop Niall. The Bishop thanked all those locals who ensured that the event was so successful.
Vitality
Newly appointed PP of St Canice’s, Fr Willie Purcell, also attended. Speaking at the event Fr Willie said that the Butts community is renowned for its vitality and strong spirit of mutual care and came together on Pearse Street in an event that brought parishioners of all ages together in faith and fellowship. “The occasion highlighted the enduring role of the parish as a place of unity, support, and shared purpose,” said Fr Purcell. Speaking after the gathering, the new Parish Priest expressed his gratitude “It was a privilege to join with Bishop Niall and the community of the Butts. The gathering on Pearse Street was a wonderful example of how a parish community works together across generations. I extend my sincere thanks to all who organised the event and to those who continue to keep the life of the city’s oldest parish alive through faith and outreach.” Fr Willie concluded by saying that St. Canice’s, the oldest parish in the city, continues to serve as a centre of worship, outreach, and community spirit for generations past, present, and future.
During the day, lots of medals were given out. To finish the day there was a game of pongo, which has run for many years in the community on Sundays in the neighbourhood hall. There were lots of treats for everybody, including tea, coffee, sandwiches, and treats for all.
A spokesperson for the committee thanked all who participated including members of the Butts town team, the Board of the Fr McGrath Centre, Annette Fitzpatrick (Town Regeneration Officer), Marie Smith (Community Liaison Officer), and Kilkenny County Council for all their work and support to make it a successful event. The event was funded by the Fr McGrath board and KCC community events grant.
Synopsis of Butts regeneration project
The Butts area regeneration project came out of the Loughmacask Area Plan (adopted June 2023). As part of the plan, the Butts was designated as a ‘Special Regeneration Area’, so that a targeted and inclusive regeneration process for The Butts could take place. The main area of the project is to carry out a detailed assessment of The Butts and to engage fully with residents to determine what measures could best benefit the community. Funding to the amount of €850,000 was approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to prepare a detailed plan of actions. A community Liaison Officer for the project was appointed in August 2024 and a site office was established at Number 19 Pearse Street. A Town Team was set up in May 2024 with community representatives from The Butts. Nine sub-groups have also been put in place on various issues including Housing, Sport, Youth, Age Friendly, Community Events, Heritage, Traffic/Road Safety, Education and Tidy Estate/Bio Diversity.
An initial community consultation event took place after the funding was granted to lay out the process. Since the appointment of the consultants, and the initiation of the process by the community, four community consultation events have taken place. All have been well attended and feedback forms have been completed by the community on the proposals being developed at every stage. A broad consensus has emerged in favour of the proposals for the renovation of the existing houses and the development of the sites. The sites are located at Lord Edward Street (former St Anthony’s premises), the back field behind The Fr McGrath centre, KCC yard on St Joseph’s Road and the Waterbarrack area.
