Parking at the Abbey Quarter
Proposed Variation No.5 to the Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan
Parking at the Abbey Quarter
SUBMISSION FROM: THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST CANICE, COACH RD KILKENNY
To whom may concern
We write following the public consultation regarding the proposed variation No 5 to the Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan. We welcome the opportunity to make a submission regarding the plan. Many are aware; the earliest sustained settlement in Kilkenny can be traced back to the church of Canice which grew in influence in the north of the settlement to become the principal ecclesiastical power in Leinster outside Dublin. This influence resulted in the development of a substantial monastic town later to become Irishtown. Four years after the 1169 Anglo-Norman invasion, the focus of the settlement shifted to the south -later to become Hightown- where, on a hill overlooking the river Nore, an earth and-timber was to mark the beginning of the development of Kilkenny Castle.
Ireland's Medieval Mile, which was launched by Failte Ireland (National Tourism Authority) and Kilkenny Borough Council in March 2014, stretches between these two hugely significant sites- St Canice's Cathedral, where the story began, and Kilkenny Castle- the purchase of which in 1301 by James Butler was to have a profound impact on the fortunes of the town. Ireland's Medieval Mile Kilkenny in terms of all the attractions and associations along and off its route aims to "unlock the past" and position the historic city as a "must see" destination for domestic and overseas visitors. The 'Ireland's Medieval Mile Kilkenny' brand has been designed to influence visitor movement through the city, improve the level of visitor engagement with the city's rich history and encourage overseas trade to promote the region using the brand.
A key requirement of the development and promotion of St Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower as key feature of Ireland'sMedieval Mile Kilkenny is the availability of sufficient parking for visitors, especially those who arrive in coaches. Currently, visitor numbers to the Cathedral are relatively modest when compared with the number of tourists who come to Kilkenny each year.
Kilkenny Castle draws much higher visitor volumes largely on account of its being able to attract the coach tour market. At present St. Canice's Cathedral cannot promote its offer of value to this market owing largely to the lack of a suitable coach park in immediate proximity to the Cathedral. The year-end figures of 2015 for Kilkenny Castle showed 283 000 visitors to the site while St Canice's Cathedral's end of year figures showed 48,000
Many visitors who use coach tours as an option to travel do so for easy accessibility and convenience. There is an expectation that they will be close to the visiting attraction. Any person willing to explore the current area of Irishtown will see that there is next to no amenities for coach parking. One bus bay usually used only as a drop off is available on Dean St which is inadequate to meet any need for pilgrims or visitors to the Cathedral and Round Tower, other churches, the theatre and heritage attractions in the area.
St Canice's Cathedral is primarily a place of worship, however to sustain the fabric of the Cathedral long term, we are appreciative and dependant of the revenue generated by tourism and concerts. Our only funding from state is funds through successful grant applications..
Research into the performance of Ireland's Medieval Mile Kilkenny is showing the effects that the imbalance of coach parking - which is currently concentrated at the Castle end of the city with no provision at all at the Cathedral end- is having on visitor dwell time and visitor flow. The imbalance of coach parking is having a dramatic effect on how the city is being presented to visitors when they arrive into Kilkenny City. St. Canice's is the birthplace of Kilkenny and should in effect be the starting point for any visit to the city. To this end, with support from Failte Ireland, we engaged Louise Browne Associates to create an interpretive framework for the Cathedral Close and we have previously submitted this framework to the local authority for consideration as part of the wider context for the re visioning the Abbey Quarter. The interpretive framework for the Cathedral Close builds directly on the previous work undertaken for Failte Ireland and the Kilkenny Councils -A Strategic Tourism Development and Implementation Plan for the City- which has set the agenda for the development of the destination.
We also note, as was indicated in a previous submission that the vista of the Cathedral and Round Tower from the Abbey Quarter should not be further compromised and that a sensitive approach should be taken to the planning and massing of any proposed buildings. The vista of St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower was compromised from John’s bridge with the extension of the courthouse.
In summary there is an absolute need for coach parking in the general area of Abbey Quarter/ Irishtown to accommodate not only St Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower but many of the cultural and heritage attractions along Ireland's Medieval Mile Kilkenny in particular along Parliament St and Irishtown. We thank you once again for the opportunity to express our opinion regarding the neccesity of coach parking at the Abbey Quarter.
Yours sincerely, Elizabeth Keyes Cathedral Administrator On behalf of St Canice's Cathedral Advisory Committee