Town and County Club has come to an end, Court hears

One of the longest established licensed clubs in the town has closed, Sligo District Court was told.

Located on Teeling Street, it was set up in 1891 but its future had beenin the balance for a number of weeks after concerns were raised by Gardaí about the manner in which it was being run.

Judge Kevin Kilrane was told lst Thursday ny Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor that the club wasn’t doing any business any longer as had been directed by the court previously.

“It has a bleak outlook and has now closed,” said Mr Mullaney.

Judge Kilrane had stated at a previous sitting that it was his view that clubs of this nature “were gone past their sell by date.”

The club, which was operated by three trustees, was before the court for two “after hours” prosecutions with Inspector Paul Kilcoyne also raising concerns about lack of signing in of members and admittance of members of the general public.

The club, the last of its kind in the town, could serve alcohol for up to an hour more than pubs, to 1.30am on week- ends and 12.30am on weekdays.

A trustee of the club, Seamus Hession told the court it was very difficult for clubs to survive now. Inspector Kilcoyne said that at 2.40am on July 25th 2015 Sergeant Cathal Duffy inspected the premises and found 30 people present with fresh drinks at the bar and on tables.

It was a similar scenario on September 23rd when the premises was inspected at 2.35am.

Mr Mullaney, solicitor said it was a social club. It had a dart board and there was also a snooker table.

Daniel Ruane of 5 St Anne’s Grove faced two counts of allowing drink to be consumed and supplied for consumption in contravention of club rules.

Judge Kilrane said there was a larger issue in that it appeared the club was operating in an unregulated manner.

Mr Hession told the court that it was experiencing financial difficulties and in particular maintaining membership fees.

Judge Kilrane said it appears the club has gone from a genuine and successful club to one that was operating under the radar and one which was allowing members of the public in.

“It can’t operate in the underground,” he said.

If it was allowed to continue like this then it was gaining an unfair advantage over other licensed premises.

On being told by Mr Mullaney that the club was now closed, Judge Kilrane struck out the summonses against Mr Ruane.