Objections to summer carnival

SEASONAL carnival operators are moving into Bray every summer and ‘taking the butter off the bread’ for established local entertainment arcades.

That’s according to local Councillor Noel Keyes, who has raised traditional objections to allowing carnival operators set up on Bray Seafront during the summer months this year.

Speaking at last Tuesday’s meeting of Bray Urban Council, Cllr. Keyes said there were local businesses operating on the seafront 12 months of the year, paying rates and charges to the council, and it was not good enough that seasonal operators should be let in to take their business.

Members were debating an application before them from Bray Emmets GAA Club seeking permission to allow a carnival to set up on its traditional site on the town seafront for 12 weeks this year.

Opposition to the carnival was also expressed by Cllr. Pat Vance who recalled that he had consistently been against allowing it onto Bray Seafront down the years. Three months would be way too long to allow them there.

On the other side of the debate was Cllr. Brigid Hannon who strongly supported allowing the carnival into Bray and argued that it provided good value for money and entertainment for ordinary families during the summer season.

During the same debate, members also unanimously agreed to allow Fosset’s Circus to set up their ‘Big Top’ on the seafront as part of the entertainment to be provided during this year’s Bray Seaside Family Festival week in early July.