Report Paul Murphy
The drinks are in for the Slane concerts with Luke Combs on stage in a few weeks time. Judge Eirinn McKiernan today granted MCD, promoters of the concert, a licence to sell alcohol for the event. It’s one of the main hurdles to be cleared as preparations are made in the lead-up to the gig which runs over two days on 18th and 19th July next. Thousands of music fans are expected to throng the village and its surrounded from Friday onwards. Another concert was listed for September but management cancelled that gig, opting instead for the double event in July.
An announcement on the event licence for the gig, which is to be decided by Meath County Council, is expected imminently. There have been strong concerns among local residents about the disruption to their lives for an event that essentially goes over four days. A question remains about any contribution MCD might make to local community and sporting groups. An offer of €30,000 has been made. While €10,000 had been paid to the community in the past, this has now increased to €15,000 per concert, making a total of €30k.
Residents groups met with Alex Conyngham, owner of Slane Castle, and MCD officials a month ago. The castle owner and MCD were to respond to the groups within a fortnight but sources have told Meath Live that the response has yet to come. Will this be increased? The next few days will tell. Meath Live has asked MCD for its response. There is also a possibility that anyone with an Eircode in the village will get two free tickets for the gig.
At today’s district court in Trim, senior counsel Dorothy Collins, an expert in licensing law, made a formal application before Judge McKiernan for an alcohol licence for the Combs events. Eamon Cox, event controller, gave evidence that up to 70,000 people are expected for the event. He said he has been running events like this since 2014 and there would be full liaison with the Gardai and fire officer. Another official said there would be strict conformity with licencing laws and the bar staff were fully trained, especially with regard to the restriction on the sale of alcohol to minors. There was no objection to the granting o the licence from An Garda Siochana.
