The Supreme Court yesterday overturned a High Court decision and cleared the way for the Royal Dublin Society to obtain an alcoholic drinks licence at its Simmonscourt Pavilion, Ballsbridge.
It upheld an RDS appeal following the Revenue Commissioners' refusal of such a licence.
Mr Justice Keane said he was sure the commissioners would now grant the alcohol licence, making an order directing the commissioners to grant the RDS a "theatre licence" enabling it to sell alcohol unnecessary.
The Revenue had refused to grant a drinks licence as it believed Simmonscourt was not a place of "public entertainment". However, Mr Justice Keane said the High Court had taken an unnecessarily restrictive view of what constituted a "place of public entertainment".