Killarney Looking Good 2023 winners
Highly Commended
2 Bellville, Park Road: In recognition of a beautifully presented home which is immaculately kept and illuminated with great colour through flowers and hanging baskets
31 Dalton’s Avenue: As consistent as it is spectacular, this garden is a shining example of just what can be achieved through pride, care and attention with a stunning lawn and outstanding visual features
33/34 Marian Terrace: These side-by-side properties have found the perfect formula for magnificent floral displays with eye-catching window boxes and hanging baskets a real feature
142 Pinewood: Consistently good, this is a very attractive and well-maintained private home where great pride is taken in the presentation of a very mature garden
22 Woodlawn Park: Neat, well-manicured and in bloom, this garden is leading by example in one of Killarney’s traditional residential areas and it is a joy to behold.
O’Sullivan Cycles, High Street: The colourful display of flowers at this premises greatly enhances the upper end of High Street and it adds a whole new dimension to an already impressive building
Flor Murphy, The Priory: The recently retired Garda Superintendent may well have come off the beat but he is still on regular patrol, quietly and efficiently volunteering his time and effort to keep a large section of Muckross Road looking its best and litter free
Category Winners
Best Large Commercial Premises: Foley’s Townhouse, High Street: A wonderful use of flowers and window boxes, adorning every window, made this hugely attractive building a real standout feature on High Street
Best Small Commercial Premises: Celtic Jewellers, Main Street: A fabulously presented building with well-maintained and striking hanging baskets on the very busy Main Street
Best Newly Painted Premises: Caragh Restaurant, New Street: You can’t miss it. A bright and cheerful exterior paint job certainly adds a very vibrant and welcome splash of colour to Upper New Street
Best Public House: Paddy Sheehan’s, Main Street: Apart altogether from the lively traditional music creating a great summertime atmosphere for passers-by, great attention has been lavished on this building with the owner adding a new façade, new traditional signage and the building has been freshly painted
Best Hotel: International Hotel: A consistent winner in this competition, the International Hotel continues to set the standard with a spectacular use of flowers and colour and it shows a real touch of class in a busy area
Best Restaurant: Bricín, High Street: Magnificently presented with the beautiful use of trailing petunias adding to the lovely traditional stone façade and quirky displays during the GAA season
Best Café: Petit Delice, High Street: A lovely mix of window boxes and hanging baskets are a pleasant sight at the top of High Street with a very attractive garden for customers to enjoy at the rear of the premises.
Best Retail: Weavers of Ireland, Market Cross: A very attractive and well-kept building right in the heart of the town, fabulously presented with a clever use of floral displays and immaculate signage
Green Hospitality: Killarney Urban Farm, East Avenue Road: Ireland’s first hospitality hydroponic urban farm growing for and servicing the hospitality industry with the objective of curtailing food miles and reducing the carbon footprint
Corporate Social Responsibility Award: Killarney Coffee Cup Project: A wonderful grassroots community initiative aimed at protecting and enhancing the local environment and to combating problems caused by single-use cups to help create a cleaner and greener planet – and Killarney is leading the way
Restoration Award: Hilliard’s, Main Street: This back to the future initiative involved the painstaking restoration by master craftsmen of the original feature signage from the House of Hilliard which dates back to 1917, ensuring that the stunning business remains true to its roots
Best Signage: Killarney Racecourse: Killarney Race Company is lauded and congratulated for creating a striking new entrance to the track and golf course which leaves a very favourable first impression and greatly enhances the main road to one of Killarney’s premier tourist attractions at Ross Castle
Best Guesthouse Award: Cillcearn House, Ballycasheen: As consistent as it is attractive, Tom and Marese Kearney‘s home and business close to the busy junction linking the Cork Road with Ballycasheen boasts a fabulous display of flowers and shrubs that is much admired by visitors and locals
Best Floral Display: Jimmy Brien’s Bar: The colourful floral display at this premises throughout the busy summer months was quite spectacular and it certainly set the standard in terms of how to present a business in the best possible light
Best Retail Landscaping: Aldi: The effort made with the landscaping and general presentation of this large commercial premises is really admirable and it certainly caught the eye of the Killarney Looking Good Competition adjudicators
Most Improved Premises: Kingdom Lodge, New Street: A shining example of how a fresh coat of paint can transform a building, this tastefully redecorated corner of New Street and St Mary’s Terrace has been the subject of some very favourable and deserved comments
Best New Building: Cathedral Place Apartments: A very pleasant addition to the lower end of New Street. the fabulous finish to this building is a great example of how attractive apartments can look when some thought and effort is put in
Biodiversity Award: Killarney Municipal District Council: Great credit is due to the council management and staff, the mayor and elected representatives and, particularly, the outdoor crews, for their constant work in ensuring the town’s roundabouts and public areas are beacons of biodiversity and consistency
Best Public Building: Killarney Library: Extensively redecorated during the year, the enhancements are very welcome given the importance of a building such as a library is to the community
Best Friendly Planting Award: Old Monastery Sensory Garden: A very welcome and important addition, the sensory garden not only plays a crucial role for the users of this great service but it creates an example that can and should be followed by so many others
Best School: St Brigid’s Secondary School: The school has been involved in several local, regional and national environmental initiatives throughout the year – with great success – and that passion and energy sets the standard for all educational establishments to follow
Special Recognition Award: O’Connor’s Pub: It’s a landmark year for this High Street hostelry which is celebrating 100 years in business. The premises is a wonderful sight during the summer months thanks to a magnificent display of flowers and hanging baskets
Best Large Residential Area: Ballydribeen: The very proactive residents’ association is spearheading a great community effort to enhance the place they call home with a number of worthwhile projects, including the mural painting initiative which involved a professional artist working alongside local children and teenagers
Best Small Residential Area: Port Road: Port Road is consistently impressive and the effort made by the residents, who tend to their gardens, flower boxes, shrubs and hanging baskets, with great enthusiasm is to be admired
Best Roadside Garden: Mike and Maura O’Sullivan, St Anne’s Road: It is almost impossible to stroll along St Anne’s Road without pausing to admire the stunning array of colourful flowers and shrubs, hanging baskets and window boxes on display in this immaculately kept home
Best Private Residence Award: Three Oaks, Ballycasheen: A fabulously presented property in Ballycasheen, James and Carmel Cahill take wonderful pride in their home which really stands out for the beautiful way it is presented and it is a most deserving winner of this important category
Special Awards
Fr Michael Murphy Memorial Pride of Place Award: Holy Cross Gardens: Immaculately presented with a great sense of pride of place, no effort is spared by the residents and all involved in presenting this lovely area in the best possible light. This is very much in keeping with the approach favoured by the late great Fr Michael Murphy who always supported and promoted community spirit
Yvonne Quill Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award: Mary and Larry Schrall: Retiring to Killarney from the US, Mary and Larry are an outstanding example of the difference volunteers can make in the community. They are passionate in their approach to ensuring Killarney is looking good, they are always at the ready to don the yellow bibs and roll up their sleeves and, in the true spirit of the wonderful Yvonne Quill, they are prepared to lead by example
2023 Overall Award: Holy Cross Gardens
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