Opening of Kilkenny pole-dancing club halted

The proposed opening of a pole-dancing club in Kilkenny has been temporarily halted by in the District Court.

Judge William Harnett yesterday heard objections from gardaí and the city council to an application by Whispers Entertainment Ltd to alter a pub licence so as to operate the pole-dancing club.

He adjourned the matter until January 8th despite a plea from the company's solicitor to reconsider the matter before Christmas.

Garvan Lynch, a director of the company, told the court that he and fellow-director David Coughlan leased a pub in Kilkenny, formerly known as the Widow McGrath's, which they wanted to reopen with "pole-dancing upstairs and a sports bar downstairs".

The court heard that the men already operate a similar club, The Raven, in Waterford city, which has functioned "without difficulty" for over three years and "has not come to the attention of gardaí".

The club offers pole-and lap-dancing and features male and female dancers in costumes which range from "groovy garda" to "naughty nurse".

Mr Lynch, who apologised to the court for being "nervous", said the company employed "girls from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and other EU countries". They operated on a "self-employed" basis and he collected "receipts from each girl" at the end of the night.

He later confirmed that the male dancers were also "from Ireland and the EU".

Supt Pat Mangan told the judge that the planned activities "go beyond the bounds of a normal seven-day [ pub] licence" and "there is an issue regarding the maintenance of public order".

A solicitor for Kilkenny Borough Council said the local authority also objected to the club on the grounds that it might constitute change of use of the premises.

The judge asked if pole-dancing would require a dance licence.

Patrick Casey, solicitor for Whispers Entertainment Ltd, said he believed such a licence was not necessary because the Public Dance Halls Act of 1935 stipulated that a dance was an event in which "the public is entitled to actively participate" - which is not the case with pole-dancing.

The judge agreed to a Garda request that it should inspect the premises and suggested the Fire Service should carry out appropriate checks.

He then proposed to adjourn the matter. Mr Casey asked if the case could be heard again next week as his "client hoped to trade before Christmas".

However, Judge Harnett said: "I can't facilitate that; my lists are far too big."