Gardaí outnumbered the protesters who gathered on the Skerries seafront on Sunday to express their concern at a newly enforced outdoor drinking prohibition by eating ice-cream in the rain.
But the handful of protesters being watched over by two Garda cars and a community policing van were no indication of the level of disquiet felt across the town about what they say is a sudden shift in policing in Skerries.
Just over two weeks ago, the seaside town in north county Dublin made all the wrong headlines when three people were hospitalised after a car was driven into a group several times during a significant public-order incident.
A large group, including at least two rival factions, had gathered on Harbour Road, where a violent mass fight unfolded for a prolonged period as people socialising outside a nearby pub looked on in horror.
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Those injured played no part in the orchestrated violence and a man was subsequently charged in relation to the incident.
In the aftermath, locals were vocal in their concern about the length of time it took for gardaí to arrive at the scene and many are now convinced their criticisms have led to a dramatic clampdown on outdoor drinking in the area as a result.
Ciara Boylan is from the town and was at the Storm in a Teacup ice-cream kiosk on Sunday evening to stage a silent and sweet protest.
“There has been one incident in 20 years and now we have a ban on drinking alcohol outdoors,” she said. “People like to buy a pint or a glass of wine and bring it outside the pub on a sunny day. Now we are being told we can’t do that.
“We have fantastic sunsets here and everybody comes out has a drink and enjoys watching the world going by. But the guards are saying no more and everybody’s very upset.”
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Eileen Kelly certainly was upset. “It’s awful to think that Skerries people can’t just go over to the harbour and have a quiet drink outside if they want to,” she said. “There was no one at the harbour on Friday night and that would be very unusual. It is just a shame.”
Pat Grimes was waiting for his pint to settle at the bar in Joe May’s pub on the seafront and he too was upset with the shift.
The 75-year-old has lived in Skerries all his life and said that, apart from the recent incident, it had been problem-free.
“Suddenly they want to stop people taking their pints outside. We have been doing that since Jesus was a child without any problems and now we have this.
“It is prohibition Irish-style. We’re used to be sitting out in the sun, elderly people like me, and we’d have a pint and a chat and move on. And now we are being told we can’t do that any more. People like ourselves, we are not causing the problems.”
In a corner of the pub sat Liz and Eamon O’Sullivan.
“It’s very unfair on the business here,” she said. “We don’t get much of a summer here even in good years and we spend most of the year inside the pub. I don’t think having a drink outside is harming anyone.”
Her husband nodded his agreement. “It is like the reverse of Covid times,” he said. “Only this time we are being locked inside the pub and being told we can’t go outside.”
In response to queries from The Irish Times a Garda spokesman noted that Fingal County Council bylaws prohibit consumption of alcohol in public places such as parks and beaches.
He said: “Local gardaí remain committed to ongoing engagement with those operating licensed premises in Skerries. This includes regular inspections and guidance to ensure full compliance with all relevant liquor licensing legislation.
“Furthermore, the local gardaí work proactively with local communities and business owners as part of broader policing plans to promote a safe and welcoming environment for all members of the public.”
