'Thirsty farmers' at National Ploughing site in Offaly says judge

JUDGE Andrew Cody questioned why four bars are needed at the National Ploughing Championships when applications for licences came before him at Tullamore District Court.

The National Ploughing takes place at Screggan, Tullamore over three days on September 16-18 next and on July 23 Judge Cody granted a licence to Korowa Limited/Kilbride Street Accommodation Services Ltd to operate there.

Yesterday (Wednesday, September 3), there were three further applications for bar licences at the event from Tullamore premises, the Bridge House Hotel Ltd, Gormagh Inns Ltd (Old Harbour Bar) and Bells Taverns Ltd (The Brewery Tap).

When Emily Mahon, solicitor, told Judge Cody she was making the applications for the Bridge House Hotel and Gormagh Inns, the judge asked: “How many bars do [the National Ploughing Association] want?”

“It's quite a big site,” Ms Mahon told the judge.

Judge Cody replied: “Quite thirsty farmers as well, if they need four bars.”

Sergeant Brendan Kearns, court presenter, told the judge it was not his remit when asked for his view on the number of bars.

Conor Lenaghan, a director of the Bridge House Hotel, was called by Ms Mahon to give evidence for its application.

He said it was a family business. Now aged 32, he said he had been working in the business since he was 18.

The Bridge House had a bar at the Ploughing when it previously took place in Tullamore for three consecutive years.

“It went very smoothly, we had no issues on site,” said Mr Lenaghan. Because of the positive experience the Bridge House was applying again and seeking a licence to operate a bar at the Ploughing from 11am to 5pm each day.

“We'd like to think we run an extremely well run operation and we'll be bringing that over with us to the Ploughing championships in relation to the responsible serving of alcohol.”

He said a security company will be engaged, staff will be trained and a company will begin erecting the marquee on September 10.

Breda Colgan, health and safety manager with the NPA, told the court work had begun on the site in the first week of July and planning for the event began last October.

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She said the bar run by the Bridge House would be close to the Charleville roundabout on the site which is over 300 acres and “much larger than the site in Portlaoise”.

She said the four bars will be “spread out” and it would take 10 to 15 minutes to walk the length of the site.

Asking again if there was a need for four bars, Judge Cody prompted laughter in the courtroom when he remarked: “They're staggered, depending on how much you drank, before you get into your car.”

Ms Colgan said the average footfall would be 60,000 to 80,000-plus so there was a need to prevent overcrowding at the bars.

She told the judge the number of people drinking had decreased over the past few years and the bar owners would say they've an increased requirement for alcohol-free beers. There were also four bars last year.

Michael Waters, owner and director of Gormagh Inns Ltd, said he had a bar at the Ploughing over its three days in 2018 and it went very well.

He had been in the business himself for 23 years in Tullamore and would be bringing experienced staff to the Ploughing.

“We'd like to think we run a very reputable business, very much hands on, and I'm there every day myself,” said Mr Waters.

He said a security company will be employed and all bar staff will be trained on the site on the Monday before the Ploughing starts on the Tuesday.

Mr Waters told Judge Cody that he was paying a fee to the NPA to have a bar at the Ploughing.

Asked by the judge about the closing time for the bar, Mr Waters said he was applying for a licence until 6pm and that time had been granted previously.

Ms Mahon told the court there would be no difficulty with a 5pm closing time.

The court heard from Ms Colgan that the Gormagh Inns bar would be located at the Lynally side of the site.

Robert Scanlon, solicitor for Bells Taverns Ltd, said a licence was being sought from 10.30am to 6pm.

Paul Bell, director of Bells Taverns, said he had been working in the bar industry since he was 18. He had worked at the Bridge House and owned the Brewery Tap for the last 23 years.

Mr Bell said he had run a bar at the Tullamore Show for the last 15 or 16 years and had previously run one at the National Ploughing.

He said he had very experienced staff built up over the years and they will work at the Ploughing.

“I think our name in Tullamore in the Brewery Tap has a very good name and we'll bring all our experienced staff,” said Mr Bell.

The security company he uses is very experienced. “Any people who are not behaving will be dealt with straight away.”

Judge Cody granted all three applications but ruled that alcohol may only be served between 12 noon and 5pm and patrons are to be “cleared and gone from the area” within 30 minutes of 5pm.

Only plastic glasses may be used and smoking is not permitted where alcohol is being consumed.