Shebeen reopens despite Garda raids

SOUTHILL’S shebeen (known to locals as Ma’s) was back in action again last night, despite three recent Garda raids.

Rebel songs blared as customers downed pints to the sound of clinking glasses. Darts, cards and pool were other options for drinkers.

As it claims to be a private premises, guests are permitted to smoke.

The owner, Francis Kelly, 33, insisted: “These people are my mates and I don’t sell them drink. They pool together and give me money to buy the drink at Tesco and Dunnes and give it out to them.”

Mick Carey, 42, sipped his bottle of Heineken and said: “This is a great job. We buy our own beer at the supermarket and have it served here. If I go to a pub I have to pay €4.90 for my bottle of Heineken. But by getting Francis buy it for me at Tesco, it’s €1 a bottle. I am on disability and it is near my home here in O’Malley Park and I can come over myself.”

Mr Kelly explained that he buys the kegs from an off-licence source with money pooled by drinkers who avail of the facility. They get their own drink back through the taps installed in the shebeen — they typically end up paying less than €2 for a pint.

His drinking buddy, Lez Dearman, hailed the friendly atmosphere of the shebeen.

“It’s like a community centre,” said Mr Dearman.

Wheelchair-user Eddie Casey, aged 70, prefers it to the conventional pub.

“Francis is even building a toilet for me to get my wheelchair into,” he said.

Francis Kelly said he has instructed his solicitor to take action to have the drink confiscated in three Garda raids returned.

He said: “They had no right to take it. This is a private property where my mates come in to enjoy a drink with me. We opened two months ago and we have our friends in every day.”

Another customer playing pool, who asked not to be named, said: “We don’t pay for the pool either, just like at home in your own home.”

The shebeen is located in a large shed in a laneway near the entrance to Southill.

There are no outward signs and the entrance is through a small latch-door in a large red gate.

But once you get beyond the gate it has all the appearance and layout of a regular bar.

As well as a counter with 10 tall stools, there are four other tables spaced nearby with smaller stools.

There is a multi-channel television and “guests” are vetted on CCTV before they are invited in by Francis Kelly.

The only thing missing is a till.

“No money changes hands. My friends give me the money to buy them their drink and I just bring it from the supermarket and they can enjoy it here with me,” said Mr Kelly.

He said he began to invite his friends in two months ago.

However, a Garda spokesman said: “There is strong circumstantial evidence that this is operating as a pub in contravention of the Intoxicating Liquor Act.”