Mayor hits out at plan for lap-dancing club

THE mayor of Kilkenny has slammed a proposal for a strip club in the city, which is due to come before the local court today.

The operators of the Whispers pole-dancing and lap-dancing club in Waterford city are hoping to secure a licence from the court for a change of use at an existing venue on Kilkenny’s Parliament Street.

Today’s sitting of the district court is due to adjudicate on the licensing application.

However, the lap-dancing plan has met with local opposition, with the mayor saying yesterday it would not fit with the “ethos” of the city.

“We are a medieval city and have quite a bit of history,” said Cllr Marie Fitzpatrick of the Labour Party. “Parliament Street is one of the oldest streets in Kilkenny city, where they’re proposing to put this club. There are families living over businesses in Kilkenny city and this will cause annoyance.”

Ms Fitzpatrick said lap dancing was “degrading to females and males” who get involved and that she was “saddened” by the whole affair.

The proposal was raised at last night’s meeting of Kilkenny City Council but the local authority has no jurisdiction over the licensing application.

The site for the proposed club was formerly a pub called P3 and, before that, the Widow McGrath’s with a restaurant called The Drunken Mexican.

Whispers Waterford describes itself as a “well-respected club” where ladies and gentlemen can relax and chat to the girls, watch the stage show or have a “private VIP dance in a cosy and relaxed environment”.

Among the services offered are stripogram hire, stag parties and group functions while one of the promotions offered on the Whispers website offers a “free lapdance” to anyone who brings between six and 10 friends, Wednesday to Sunday nights.

The “girls” advertised at the club include an “innocent schoolgirl”, “naughty nurse” and “sexy secretary”.

Attempts to contact the club for comment proved unsuccessful yesterday.