Kilkenny

A new pilot scheme has been launched to encourage local cafés in Kilkenny city to extend their opening hours and host cultural events after 6pm.&nbsp;
Café Lates is designed to meet the demand from locals and tourists alike to enjoy a range of activities after 6pm. It is a direct response to feedback gathered in a survey conducted last year as part of the Night Time Economy Pilot Initiative, which highlighted strong demand for later evening and night-time café openings.

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<h4>Funding Available for Cultural Programming</h4>
Kilkenny County Council is inviting local cafés in the city to apply for funding to support engaging cultural programming after 6pm on two selected evenings: Thursday, 17th April, and Thursday, 29th May.
Successful applicants will receive grants ranging from €350 to €750, provided they extend their operating hours by at least two hours beyond 6pm on both dates. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday, 28th March. Further details and application are available here at <a href="https://www.localenterprise.ie/Kilkenny/Enterprise-Development/Night-Time-Economy/" target="_blank">Local Enterprise Kilkenny.</a>&nbsp;
A Response to Growing Demand for Night-Time Activities
Mayor of Kilkenny City, Cllr Andrew McGuinness, emphasised the potential impact of the initiative:
“The success of the Night Time Economy Diversification Scheme last year demonstrated to us the demand from the general public and tourists to enjoy a range of activities after 6pm. In piloting this brand-new initiative with a particular focus on cafés, we want to encourage local businesses to diversify their offering in the evening time and examine if the later opening hours could be continued sustainably into the future.”

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<h4>Echoing this sentiment, Conor Sweeney, Night Time Economy Advisor for Kilkenny City, highlighted the growing popularity of café culture in Ireland and its potential for expansion:</h4>
“We are now over halfway through the implementation of the Night Time Economy Pilot Action Plan, and this is an area that we are particularly keen to develop and support. The café culture in Ireland has become very popular, so by supporting them to extend their opening hours and offer live performances on those two evenings, the participating cafés have the opportunity to showcase a night-time experience for new and existing customers.”

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Encouraging Businesses to Embrace Evening Trade
The Café Lates initiative aims to test the viability of later opening hours while providing cultural experiences for locals and visitors. Kilkenny County Council hopes that the scheme will not only enhance the city’s night-time economy but also create new opportunities for businesses to thrive beyond their usual hours.
Local café owners interested in participating are encouraged to apply before the March 28th deadline to take advantage of this funding opportunity and contribute to Kilkenny’s evolving evening economy.

New Kilkenny Café Lates Pilot Scheme to Enhance Night Time Economy

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