A couple's peace was shattered when four theatre students moved in next door and started rehearsing late at night, a court heard yesterday.
Finbarr and Helen Farrelly said their neighbours' house at Bovale Park, Artane, Dublin became like an "amphitheatre" because the sound of rehearsals was amplified by the lack of carpets or furnishings in some rooms. The Farrellys sought a noise abatement order against the landlords, Carol and Des O'Brien, who had lived in the house until they rented it out last October to four Colaiste Dhulaigh theatre students.
There was some alleviation when the Farrellys insulated their own upstairs rooms at a cost of £800, but the noise still came up through the ceiling.
In their defence, the O'Briens said they had made it a condition of the lease that there was to be no noise or parties.
Mr O'Brien said he went to the house four times after receiving complaints and never found any excessively loud noise or music.
Judge Clare Leonard adjourned the case for two months to give the O'Briens the opportunity to deal with the Farrellys' complaints. In the meantime, she said there was to be no music played between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. - "not even a radio or TV".