Gardaí to keep tabs on Tralee drinks
And Judge James O’Connor also made an order at Tralee District Court directing that drink charges at the planned event will not exceed the prices which were publicly displayed yesterday at the Abbey Inn in Kerry’s county town.
Furthermore, a solicitor representing the town’s 30-plus vintners gave an assurance 20% of profits from a planned “Stunning Sunday” in Tralee would aid the cancer charity, Donal Walsh Foundation.
An application to provide an open air drinks service, for the first time in more than 50 years of open air street concerts at the International Rose of Tralee festival, was described by the judge as “a new departure”.
The judge indicated that he had reluctantly granted the application. He questioned the need for the open air bar on the Sunday of the festival.
And to ensure patrons would not be “fleeced”, he asked gardaí to monitor drink prices.
He also said there had to be a philanthropic element, directing funding to the cancer charity.
The judge had, yesterday, twice adjourned the application until he received assurances about pricing.
Sandy Leane, proprietor of the Abbey Inn and representing more than 33 Tralee vintners, sought an occasional licence for an area near Pearse Park off Denny St for the Sunday night open air concerts, which are to culminate with rock band The Stunning, the court heard.
Solicitor Canice Walsh, for the applicant, said “Stunning Sunday” would begin with an air display at the Aquadome, south of Denny St, aimed at families.
The open-air bar will operate between 6pm and 10pm so families, it was claimed, could remain together while parents had a drink during the open-air concerts, he said.
Profits from the event are to be ploughed back into the festival programme.
However, Judge O’Connor questioned the need for a bar, for the first time, at the annual open-air street concert, saying his own feeling was that it was not necessary.
There had been two football matches — the minor and senior Munster finals in Killarney — recently that had extended over four hours and “nobody needed a drink”, he said.
“Why is a bar necessary at an open-air event? The reality is this extends the festival. There had been no bar previously and did the people survive?” he asked.
The judge said he had all too often heard of not-for-profit bars when the prices charged were “scandalous”. There would have to be a philanthropic element also, the judge decided.
With discussions continuing throughout the day, the judge finally granted the application on being assured drink prices would be the same “outdoors as indoors”.
Inspector Donal Ashe told the court that gardaí had sat down with the organisers and agreed on security.
Plastic cups would be used, he said, and there would be wine and beer but no spirits. Security was also to be tight at what would be known as a “sterile area” in Denny St.
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