Council 'call time' on Imperial Hotel licence

Monday, 18 July 2011 15:21

Mayo County Council has become an officially licenced publican - for a few days.
It follows an ad interim transfer of the seven-day licence attached to the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar, which the council recently bought with Castlebar Town Council.
The application to transfer the licence from the receiver appointed by ACC bank into the name of acting county secretary Martina Hughes was granted by Judge Mary Devins at Kiltimagh court on Friday.
The judge queried if a local authority could, in fact, hold a seven-day licence.
Solicitor for the council, Mr. Ward McEllin, explained how under legislation the local authority was entitled to exercise any function allowed to any person, and the licence could be granted to it.
"So in theory they could run a pub," commented the judge, who admitted she never knew that.
Mr. McEllin confirmed if the council resolved to run a pub, it could do so.
The solicitor also confirmed that won't be happening in this case.
There is agreement that the licence will be extinguished at the sittings of Castlebar Circuit Court this week.
Commenting on where the licence will be going thereafter, solicitor Patrick Durcan said: "We hope it will assist island people."
There were no objections to the licence transfer, which was duly granted by the judge.