A wide view of a small town with residential and commercial buildings, a church, a tennis court, and a park ahead. Mountains and a sky with scattered clouds are in the background.

A new way of working for Clonmel

What is a Business Improvement District (BID)?

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined area where businesses agree to invest collectively in improvements to their trading environment. BIDs operate in towns and cities across Ireland, the UK and further afield. In Ireland, they are established under the Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Act 2006 and must be approved by a vote of the area's ratepayers.

Sligo BID has shown what a BID can do for an Irish town the size of Clonmel. A group of Clonmel business owners visited Sligo, were impressed by what they saw, and set about bringing the same approach home.

Why Clonmel needs a BID

Clonmel is a town of over 18,000 people with a strong employment base — but like many Irish towns, our centre has been under pressure from online retail, changing shopping habits and the after-effects of COVID. Too many vacant properties, too few people living on our main streets, and a night-time economy that has faded.

The BID gives Clonmel's business community a single, louder voice and a dedicated budget to do something about it — in partnership with Tipperary County Council, County Tipperary Chamber, An Garda Síochána, Clonmel Town Team, Tidy Towns and the many voluntary groups who already work hard for the town.

The vote

Every rateable property in the BID area was entitled to one vote in a postal ballot run independently by Tipperary County Council between 14 April and 13 May 2026.

  • Ballot papers issued: 986

  • Ballots returned: 583

  • Valid votes: 567

  • In favour: 482 (85%)

  • Against: 85

The proposal was formally approved by the elected members of Tipperary County Council on 8th June 2026.

The BID area

The Clonmel BID covers the town's commercial core and surrounding business areas, including O'Connell Street, Gladstone Street, Parnell Street, Irishtown, Davis Road, Cahir Road, Ballingarrane, Tivoli Road, Ard Gaoithe Business Park and the Showgrounds Shopping Centre.

A detailed map of Connemara, Ireland, showing roads, towns, lakes, forests, and landmarks with various color-coded features and topographical contours.

Not sure if your property is in the BID area? Contact us, and we'll check.

Contact Us

How long does it last?

The BID runs for five years, from 2026 to 2031. At the end of that term, ratepayers vote again on whether to renew it. If the BID isn't delivering for businesses and the town, it can be voted out.

FAQ

  • No. The BID funds new and additional activity. Street cleaning, lighting, road maintenance, parks and all existing Council services continue as before.

  • The BID board — made up mainly of local ratepayers — sets priorities and approves spending, guided by the five-year plan and ongoing consultation with businesses.

  • You can access the Clonmel BID proposal 2026 - 2031 here

  • The BID is a Company Limited by Guarantee with an adopted code of corporate governance. Accounts are audited and published annually, and a full impact report will be produced before the renewal vote.

  • Every rateable property within the BID boundary. The levy is 5% of commercial rates and is collected by Tipperary County Council with your rates bill. See Levy & Finances for details.