New no-nonsense bye-laws governing busking on the streets of Killarney will come into force from June 1, it has been confirmed.
The length of time musicians, singers and other street performers will be allowed to operate will be controlled – with a two-hour limit applying before they move on by at least 50m – and they must end their performances by 9.00pm each night. They must all apply for and receive a permit from the local authority before they can commence their act.
All groups must be accompanied by a person over 18 years of age, a maximum noise level of 80 decibels will be in force and there will be a clampdown on foul, abusive or racist language.
Performers must also have a sufficient repertoire to avoid constant repetition of the same track or tune.
The new bye-laws were outlined to councillors in Killarney on Wednesday by Kerry County Council Director of Services, Paul Neary, and all councillors voted in favour of their adoption.
Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Niall Kelleher, said it has to be stressed that buskers and street performers are very welcome in Killarney as they add significantly to the atmosphere but, he added, there have been “massive problems” in the past and the bye-laws were introduced to tackle a repeat of that happening.
“If the bye-laws that were there had been respected, which they weren’t, there would have been no problem and there would have been no requirement for area specific bye-laws,” he said.
“We don’t want foul language, one-track ponies and people staying in the same place all day without giving businesses a break,” said Cllr Kelleher who added that the engagement of An Garda Siochána in the implementation of the new bye-laws, in association with the council’s enforcement officers, is to be welcomed.
Kerry County Council enforcement officers are to be equipped with sound monitors to test sound levels.
Picture: Ian Cronin
“We want fledgling young entertainers who might want to earn a bit of money and promote their music,” the mayor added.
Cllr Marie Moloney said it is simply not true for some people to suggest, as they have done, that the council is trying to shut down entertainers in Killarney town but, she said, some buskers are arriving on the streets at 11.30 at night and play until two or three o’clock in the morning and that can’t be allowed to continue.
Cllr Brendan Cronin said places like Ennis, Galway and Dublin have busking bye-laws in operation for years and they are a pleasure to visit but steps have to be taken to outlaw vulgarity and rude language that all the councillors have heard on the streets.
Cllr Cronin recalled an impromptu street performance by local musician Liam O’Connor and Aslan frontman Christy Dignam on Plunkett Street a few years ago as they type of act Killarney should welcome.
Cllr Maura Healy-Rae said action was required to eliminate vulgar, racist and lewd comments that were targeted at people from certain countries as Killarney doesn’t need that.
She said, however, that a cut-off point of 9.00pm might be a little bit too early and she suggested extending it to 10.00pm.
Cllr Donal Grady said there have been examples of music blaring out of one pub in town that is way above the permitted levels, particularly pre-Covid, and that shouldn’t be allowed either.
He said, however, that there is one performer who sets up near a local bank and he grossly exceeds the decibel limit.
Cllr Grady said Pecker Dunne – who had been one of Ireland’s greatest musicians and was known as the travelling troubadour – was once asked to move on from Killarney and while a repeat of that type of situation must be avoided, the noise levels must be kept down.
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