Mayo memories: Dance licence refused as hall was in poteen area

By Tom Gillespie

ON October 16, 1936, objections were raised at Swinford District Court to the granting of a dance licence because the hall was located in a poteen distilling area.

At the sitting before District Justice Mr. G. Guy, James Davitt, Dromadyjoyce, applied for permission to hold dances for a period of one month in his hall at Dromadyjoyce.

Replying to his solicitor (Mr. S. Hannon), Davitt stated that there was no objection to the granting of the previous licence in respect of his hall. It was a well conducted hall and there was never any disturbance in it.

Examined by Supt. Somers, witness admitted that there really was an objection when the first application for a licence was made.

Supt.: You had disturbances there last year? - No.

Are you quite sure of that? - Yes.

You swear that there were no rows there? - No.

What sanitary accommodation have you there? - No reply.

I suggest you have only four walls there? - I have everything but a flush lavatory.

Mr. Hannon: The Guards had never any occasion to go to your hall? - No.

Supt. Somers said the Guards were objecting on the grounds that the applicant didn’t seem to be able to keep order there. Besides, the hall was near a poteen area. He understood that Fr. Hyland was present to object to the granting of the licence.

Rev. Fr. Hyland, C.C., Killasser, addressing the Justice, said: “We got reports during the year that this hall was not properly conducted. I am inclined to think it is in a very bad area, and I respectfully suggest that you don’t allow any dances be held there. It is a danger to the public health of the place, and for his own sake I think it would be better if he didn’t get any dances at all.

“I understand that the lamp was knocked around the hall on one occasion, and I also believe that when the Guards went there they found a few black eyes. I think that for the applicant’s own sake it would be better if he didn’t get any dances at all.”

Justice: I would like to have evidence as to the hall itself.

Sergt. Barrett was called and said that the hall was a rough structure. As far as he knew there was no sanitary accommodation there. The hall was situated in a poteen district, where there were some noted distillers of poteen, who would have little trouble in distributing poteen during dances. No complaints were made officially but witness was satisfied that disturbances took place in or near the dance hall.

Mr. Hannon: Can you suggest any improvements to the hall, Sergeant, which would make it meet your wishes.

Sergt.: Well, owing to the nature of the area, and the fact that illicit distillation is prevalent there, I don’t think he could have proper supervision over the hall.

Mr. Hannon: My client has gone to considerable expense in connection with the hall, and it will be very hard on him if your Worship refuses the application. He has already held a licence for the hall, and if he does not satisfy the authorities as it is, we are quite willing to give an undertaking that any improvement suggested will be carried out. I suggest that your Worship would give us a trial in respect of the hall.

The Justice refused to grant the application.