Case involving golf club bar ‘on vintners’ radar’

The Vintners Federation of Ireland has said it is monitoring a court case in Castlebar in which the bar at the Taoiseach’s golf club was run as a pub in exchange for an annual payment of €10,000.

VFI president Gerry Rafter said while he was not familiar with the specifics of the case involving Castlebar Golf Club — whose members include Enda Kenny — the wider issue was “on our radar” due to possible ramifications for publicans.

In the case recently heard in Ballina, Superintendent Joe Doherty said gardaí had received a complaint regarding the operation of the bar in the club not being run in accordance with the Registration of Clubs Act 1904.

Judge Conal Gibbons heard the bar manager had an agreement with the golf club which allowed him to run the bar for €10,000 a year and that he could keep the profits.

The court heard that on a garda visit to the club last March, no visitors book was available, as required by law. Visitors should not be served alcohol at the club unless invited by members and their names entered into the book.

The judge granted an exemption to the club for an upcoming captain’s night but said all parties should explore the issues before an application comes before the annual licensing court.

VFI president Gerry Rafter said: “In general there are laws regarding the running of a pub, the licensing laws, and similarly, there are laws on running a licensed club. We would do no more than ask the authorities to apply the relevant laws across the board.”

It is understood some local publicans have expressed concern at the issue. “It is on our radar,” Mr Rafter said. “If it illegally takes business from our members it is something we need to be concerned about.”