Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme (THRIVE)

THRIVE Projects Announced: €3.98 Million Government & EU co-funding Awarded to regenerate Carnegie Library, Kilkenny

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne has announced that €3,980,592 in funding has been awarded to Kilkenny County Council for the sustainable adaptive reuse of Carnegie Library, Kilkenny through THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme. 

Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, THRIVE empowers local authorities to reimagine and adapt heritage buildings to create useful, vibrant and sustainable cultural and community hubs. THRIVE isn’t just restoring buildings, it’s nurturing a new design ethos in Irish town regeneration, combining Europe’s green vision with local energy and ambition.

Carnegie Library on John’s Quay, Kilkenny is set to be transformed into a vibrant cultural hub at the heart of the city and will become “The Stories of Kilkenny – Welcome to Your Past, Present & Future”. The regeneration will see a refurbishment of the building to improve energy efficiency and accessibility and a redesigned space to the side and rear of the building providing a public meeting space within a  sustainable garden.

See attached Press Release from the Southern Regional Assembly for more information.  PRESS RELEASE

THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27. 

John’s Quay/John Street Urban Design Strategy 2024

Kilkenny County Council were first awarded funding of €200,000 under the THRIVE scheme to create an Urban Design Strategy for the John’s Quay/John Street area in Kilkenny City.

The Council appointed consultants to assist in the process and engaged with key stakeholders at a number of public consultation meetings.  The Urban Design Strategy was completed in November, 2024.  From this strategy, a project to develop the Carnegie Library at John's Quay was developed.  The Part 8 Planning Application for the Kilkenny Local Studies Hub and Public Realm Enhancements at John’s Quay, Kilkenny was approved in March 2025.  

All documentation is available via the following link: Consult Part 8 Planning Application at Carnegie Library

The process is being led by the Town Regeneration Officer, Kilkenny County Council – Annette Fitzpatrick.  For any further queries, please contact: townregenerationoffice@kilkennycoco.ie

For more information please visit the website of the Southern Regional Assembly