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The council in Kerry are being asked to look at the whole street furniture thing in the context of the town’s bylaws on drinking.

On the one hand drinking in public is outlawed, but on the other hand street furniture allows people to sit outside bars and the practice of drinking outside bars where there are seats has emerged and it is not being universally welcomed.

The issue was raised at meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in Killorglin where the council is being urged to consider   Galway type hoardings to screen off early morning and day time drinking.

Drinking on the street in Killarney is outlawed under the former town council bylaws, a meeting of the county’s JPC heard.

Gardai adopted a “sensible approach” and turned a blind eye to it on special occasions, like the Munster Finals to help bars cope with crowds

Michael Culloty, accountant, is the former chairman of Killarney’s successful Purple  flag bid which awards well-managed and safe urban environments. He told how “on-street drinking” had become an issue in Killarney and asked if the town’s bylaws allowed this.

He had received a photograph of a person sitting on the street drinking at 12 minutes past 12 in the middle of the day and families were concerned about the day time drinking even during the winter.

“Perhaps hoarding should be considered,” Mr Culloty suggested.