Mighty craic keeps 100 in pub at 5am
Wednesday March 10 2010
A FORMER Kilgarvan publican has been convicted and fined €225 after almost 100 people were found on her open premises at nearly five in the morning.
In a case heard at Kenmare District Court on Friday, Oonagh Shortall, formerly of O'Reilly's Bar, was charged with the offence on August 16 last year.
Exemptions had been granted until 2am on the night as the date coincides with the Kenmare Fair. Inspector Barry O'Rourke told the court that gardaí had first inspected the premises at 3.20am and afforded a degree of discretion, asking that the premises be cleared.
Returning to the bar at 4.50am, gardaí found approximately 100 people present and four people were serving behind the bar with much craic and general "rí rá agus ruaille buaille", the court heard.
The defence said is was the defendant's last night in charge of the premises and patrons had got carried away with celebrations. It was also argued that, due to the fair, a premises opposite had a live band on the night which had attracted a huge crowd to the village.
The defence said that Ms Shortall had assured that she would no longer trade in licensed premises.
