Community centre granted full pub licence

IN WHAT was said to be the first time it has happened, a community centre has been granted a full pub licence following a decision by the High Court yesterday.

The community centre on Clare Island, off the Co Mayo coast, has been granted a seven-day licence to serve beer, spirits and other alcohol provided this activity is ancillary to its main activity as a community centre.

Constance Cassidy SC, who appeared for Clare Island Community Centre Ltd and is the author of a textbook on licensing law, said it was the first time a community centre had been granted a pub licence. She said when former president Mary McAleese visited the centre recently she could not be offered a glass of wine because of the licensing situation.

Mr Justice Michael Hanna delivered his judgment yesterday during a sitting of the High Court in Roscommon. The ruling overturned the decision of the Circuit Court, which had refused the centre’s application for a licence.

In his decision, the judge referred to the fact that institutions such as the Hunt Museum and the National Conference Centre held licences, and said the National Concert Hall was serving alcohol during a recent performance of The Pirates of Penzance that he attended.

He adjourned the case to next month to allow the centre to prepare an undertaking that it will hold no more than 15 late-night functions each year.

The ruling brings to an end a long-running battle between the operators of the community centre, who claim the support of 95 per cent of the island’s population, and two local businessmen.

One of the businessmen was Chris O’Grady, who had argued that the community centre had no planning permission for a public house and claimed there was begrudgery towards him from islanders.

The centre has a club licence but the owners said this was too restrictive for their needs. They hope to open their doors to tourists, whereas a club licence limits access to members.

Mr O’Grady has operated the Bay View Hotel on the island since 1964 and also owns the only ferry connecting the island to the mainland. The hotel has not provided accommodation since a fire in 2007 but its bar remains open.

The other main objector was Jim Cox, who is building a hostel, pub and private residence on the island after moving there from New York.