Bye-laws would include 11pm curfew for street performance during fleadh

Bye-laws governing on-street performances and amplified music are to be introduced for the Fleadh Cheoil 2022. Under the proposed bye-laws, on-street performers or buskers could only play in one spot for two hours, to stop anyone “hogging a spot” and there would be an 11pm to 9am curfew.

Pubs would not be allowed to “blast out” any music that was not in keeping with the ethos of the fleadh, i.e. traditional Irish music.

The proposed bye-laws go out for public consultation shortly and are likely to be voted on in June.

Under the proposed bye-laws, street performers will not be able to reserve spots and if they want to use amplification, they have to get permission from the council. They may not charge members of the public or obstruct or endanger the public.

Pubs and other premises may not amplify music that is not in keeping with the ethos of the fleadh or causes public annoyance. Vehicle mounted amplification is also restricted.

Those found guilty of breaches of the bye-laws face €2,500 fines or a €75 on the spot fines.

There was mixed reaction at a meeting of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District last week. Some felt that the bye-laws which will govern outdoor events of 5,000 or more could affect future events such as the Life Festival in Belvedere.

Others felt the 11pm to 9am curfew on on-street performances was too restrictive and there was general agreement that publicans, restaurateurs, the fleadh committee and others affected should be consulted.

David Jones, director of services, said that the bye-laws were similar to those passed for the fleadh when it was in Drogheda, Ennis and Sligo. The key rationale for the bye-laws is to ensure nothing impedes the celebration of traditional Irish music.

If a pub was blasting out rock music, it would not be consistent with the fleadh and the bye-laws give gardaí the power to act in such a scenario.

Mr Jones said the council was not anticipating that would happen but the experience of other counties indicated that it could.

All other counties in the last decade have introduced similar bye-laws as a safeguard and extra arm of defence in relation to having a bit of order, he said.

Housekeeping

Cllr Emily Wallace felt the proposed bye-laws were “good housekeeping”. She urged businesses and the public to engage in the public consultation saying: “Get your message into these bye-laws, you know what you need.

She asked that pubs be informed directly about the amplification regulation, saying that every vintner is law abiding and we need to avoid misinformation.

Mr Jones assured Cllr Wallace that the regulation would be highlighted to publicans and he encouraged them to make submissions. He pointed out that there was no blanket ban on music from pubs, only where it affected the overall event.

“We are creating an orderly framework for the high number of performers that will want to take part,” he said. He went on to explain that the two-hour limit on performers remaining in one place was to stop someone “hogging a spot”.

The mayor of Mullingar, Cllr Aoife Davitt, asked that councillors be allowed to review the bye-laws in case they needed to add or change something in them, after they are passed. Mr Jones agreed that the bye-laws should be subject to review and expressed the hope that the fleadh would be back in Mullingar again next year.

Cllr Bill Collentine was worried that buskers would be pushed off the streets and into the town park. He was told that there would be restrictions regarding on-street performances. The squares will be for fleadh performers and the others will be largely located in the park.

Cllr Collentine has been at 38 fleadhs where he saw children from around the country, the United States and Canada playing music on the streets as they could not go into the pubs.

Would the bye-laws stop them playing on the streets? Kids playing music in every corner is what makes the fleadh, he said. Cllr Collentine also felt that the 11pm closing was too early, particularly in good weather.

Cllr Mick Dollard wanted to know how the bye-laws would be enforced and remarked that you could have all the policies in the world, but they were no use unless there was someone to implement them.

He was told that they would be enforced by authorised officers from the council and gardaí if necessary. The gardaí will be part of the control room team and they will have large numbers on the streets during the fleadh.

Cllr Hazel Smyth was anxious that access to public buildings and footpaths would not be blocked. She was also worried about noise pollution and potential damage to the hearing of those living in the town centre. She called for a complaints mechanism so that such issues could be dealt with appropriately. Cllr Smyth felt that as this was a family friendly event, it should not run past 11pm.

Cllr Ken Glynn felt the amplification regulation could be contentious. Get talking to the vintners, restaurateurs, the fleadh committee and whoever these bye-laws affect, he said – work with the people and make it workable for everyone. The last thing we want is negativity.

The bye-laws only apply to outdoor events of more than 5,000 people. Whether they remain in place after the fleadh is a matter for the councillors, but Mr Jones pointed out that if the fleadh is to be back in Mullingar in 2023, it would be better to leave them in place and avoid having to go through the process again.

He accepted that the amplification regulation could be contentious, but stressed that it is only a safeguard because amplification had been an issue in other areas. He agreed that the vintners are law abiding.

Cllr Andrew Duncan said that if we are turning people off at 11 o’clock at the fleadh, we will have to do the same at the Life Festival in Belvedere. He said the entertainment business had been more damaged than any business by the pandemic and this was an opportunity for them to capitalise. He suggested that if people did lose sleep for a couple of hours, they would be doing so for the betterment of the town.

Mr Jones said that the 11pm to 9am regulation is consistent with other areas, but the council will look at any comments and submissions that come in.

He added that the bye-laws refer to the town, not events outside it, but could be extended to other areas if the councillors so wished. However, he remarked that the core venue for the fleadh was Mullingar.

The bye-laws go out for public consultation this week or next and submissions and comments will be accepted over the following month.