Council flag warning leaves Cats hot under the collar

KILKENNY hurling fans are fuming over a letter from city bosses warning business people that permanent banners and flags require planning permission.

Kilkenny Borough Council has written to a number of business people in the city, informing them that permanent displays are “a planning matter”.

Even the city’s mayor, Pat Crotty, who owns a business in the city, has received a letter from the local authority. “I received such a letter in my business context. The letter said the flying of flags or other banners or whatever you might put on your premises was a planning matter.

“It was not suggesting that you couldn’t have one. It was just saying if you wished to have one, you should apply for planning. I did think the letter was a bit heavy-handed ,” he added.

Mr Crotty said he has an Irish flag, a Kilkenny flag and a US flag on the front of his premises. He said a banner wishing the hurlers well had already been removed.

“I think the flags enhance the streetscape, ” he said.

The matter is set to be raised at the next meeting of the borough council and is likely to give rise to heated debate with Kilkenny due to take part in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship final next month.

Callers to Radio Kilkenny claimed yesterday that the matter may have been politically motivated, saying the county manager is from Tipperary. The station has urged people to fly the flag, regardless.

Town clerk Donal O’Brien said the issue has nothing to do with Kilkenny flags. “The letter refers to people who do not have planning permission for various things. It has nothing to do with flags. We have specified to people what the problem is, whether it’s a banner, a wall or whatever.”