Kilkenny's first pole- and lap-dancing club will open this Friday at 5pm despite widespread opposition from local politicians, gardaí and members of the public.
Whispers Entertainment was granted an ad interim licence at Kilkenny District Court yesterday.
The club's owners confirmed that they would officially open the controversial new venue on Friday.
Male and female dancers from Ireland and other EU countries will pole- and lap-dance upstairs in the Parliament Street premises which was formally known as The Widows.
The new club will be located in the heart of the medieval quarter in a residential area mainly frequented by locals.
There is an expectation that the club will entice hen and stag parties back to the city after this market declined when early closing at 1.30am was enforced last year.
The case was adjourned to yesterday's court to ensure that the owners were in compliance with fire safety regulations.
Their solicitor, Patrick Casey, told the Kilkenny District Court that engineer Gerry Sexton had met the chief fire officer Ciarán Cormican and that the building was fully compliant with the fire safety requirements.
Supt Pat Mangan told the court that Kilkenny Borough Council had referred the matter to An Bord Pleanála to seek advice as to whether there was any breach of planning laws.
A response from the planning authority is expected within six weeks.
Judge William Harnett granted the licence but warned the new licensees that if they were found to be in breach of planning laws, they could find themselves in hot water.
"If An Bord Pleanála gives the wrong colour smoke, you could face a raft of objections on the annual licensing day in September," Judge Harnett said.
" We can't go on waiting indefinitely for the musings of An Bord Pleanála and if it transpires that they are in contravention of the planning laws then they will face the music in September."
Any member of the public has a right to object to a licence at the annual licensing court in September.