UP TO 100 protesters demonstrated yesterday in a rally against head shops in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
The protesters are concerned that two head shops are now operating locally. They are particularly concerned that the outlets are located on the approach route to two schools, Davitt College and St Joseph’s Secondary School. The rally began at a premises known as Cosmic Closet on Charles Street before moving on to the second outlet on Castle Street, about three-quarters of a mile away.
Some protesters carried placards claiming head shops were a blight on society whilst others angrily shouted, “head shops out, no head shops for Castlebar!” Speaking through a megaphone, the Mayor of Castlebar, Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, called on the Opposition in Dáil Éireann to put down a Private Members Bill to have the operation of head shops regulated. Mr Kilcoyne also called on the owners of rental properties to “examine their consciences” before renting to individuals who intended to operate such premises.
One protester Ernie Sweeney said: “Just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. There are a lot of things in this country that are legal and we all known they are not right.”
As the demonstration ended at Charles Street, Paul Bannon, who identified himself as the proprietor of the Cosmic Closet, defended his business activities. “What I sell is better than drugs or alcohol,” he said. “If there was a ban on head shops in the morning the drug sellers would move in.” Mr Bannon said he exercised self-regulation in that his premises didn’t sell to under-18s even though he was legally entitled to do so.