Golf Club granted licence as objector withdraws appeal

Objection to Castlebar Golf Club’s 19th hole withdrawn


Application for costs also withdrawn by objector

Castlebar Golf Club has been granted a renewal of its club licence after objectors to the licence withdrew their appeal at this week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court.
At the licencing court in September Lorcan Cribbin, a Castlebar resident and former member of the club, appealed as did Francis Comerford, BL, for An Garda Siochana.
They appealed against the situation where the bar and restaurant at the club is run by an outside contractor, Joseph McDonnell, and not the club themselves. Both claimed this was a breach of the licencing laws.
The matter was adjourned to October where Judge Mary Devins gave Castlebar Golf Club until last week to address issues and irregularities concerning their license.
On October 3 last Judge Devins said that the fact that a private individual, Mr McDonnell, and not the golf club’s management committee, was in control of the sale of alcohol at the club meant they were in breach of the Club Licencing Act.
Rory O’Connor, for the golf club, said that Mr McDonnell is answerable to the committee under general rules while Francis Comerford, BL, for An Garda Siochana said they were satisfied that changes made now ensured the club was operating within the rules of the Club Licencing Act.
Brendan Donnelly, solicitor for Lorcan Cribbin, said  that Mr Cribbin was ‘satisfied’ with the constitution of the rules and that the bar was no longer being run by an individual, but by a committee and said Mr Cribbin was withdrawing his appeal.
He did say his client ‘may have concerns’ with after-hours drinking but said this was a matter for Gardaí to address if the matter arose.
Mr Donnelly began an application for costs for Mr Cribbin, saying he had raised ‘a valid objection’. Judge Mary Devins said that because Mr Cribbin had been a member of the club for five years, he was tacitly endorsing the way it was run.
Judge Devins rose for a few minutes to allow Mr Cribbin to consider the matter. When she returned, Brendan Donnelly informed her that Mr Cribbin was no longer applying for costs.