Triathlone alcohol licence approved after gardai visit burgess park site

A licence to serve alcohol in Burgess Park during the triAthlone festival tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday has been granted following talks between the Gardai and event organisers.

Earlier this week, Gardai objected to the awarding of the licence on the basis that serving alcohol in the park this weekend would create policing problems and would 'bring a crowd and an element to (triAthlone) that hasn't been there before.'

At 9am this morning, Inspector Aidan Minnock met with organisers at the festival site and an agreement was reached.

During a sitting of Athlone District Court today an occasional licence was then granted to John Callanan, allowing alcohol to be served in marquee at the festival site from 2-9pm tomorrow and Sunday.

One of the conditions of the licence was that alcohol may only be consumed within the marquee and in a cordoned-off area alongside it.

The triAthlone races will take place from 7pm tomorrow and from noon on Sunday.