He was sure Kilcullen 'would take its place in the history of the county' — Judge

Mr. J. Salmon, solr., appeared for Miss Annie Byrne, Hotel, Kilcullen, who sought an order to substitute the licensing hours from 2 to 9 o'clock on Sundays instead of from 1 to 8 o'clock.

Mr. Salmon said his client had expended a considerable amount of money on the premises which were purchased in 1925, so as to make it suitable for a hotel. Kilcullen was a fishing centre and there was a great deal of fishing on the Liffey in the town and was on the main road from Dublin to the South of Ireland.

Mr Salmon pointed out other reasons for the application and submitted that it was a reasonable one under the circumstances.

Mr. J. J. Byrne, brother of the applicant, said he managed the business which was opened at Christmas 1925, and about £1,200 was spent in changing and renovating the place. The place was a stopping station for the many buses passing through the town. The later hours were more suitable for persons requiring refreshments who visited the place in the course of business or pleasure. There was a large convent in the town with about 80 students and on Sundays a large number of parents and friends who after travelling often required refreshments.

Supt Murphy opposed the application, pointing out that the other traders in Kilcullen were not making any application for substitution of the hours drink would be procurable between the hours of 1 and 9. He also objected on the grounds that there was no necessity for the substitution of the hours.

Sergt. Maloney stated that there might be some 85 children in the Convent schools whom some visitors may go to visit. There might be half a dozen persons coming to fish on the Liffey at Kilcullen on Sundays. The numbers visiting the Convent was sometimes very great, some time from 12 to 2. Often travelling parties approached him to get refreshments which he [the applicant] had to refuse.

The Justice said that Mr Salmon in presenting the case for the applicant, had made a very strong case, but his difficulty was to find something in Kilcullen which makes it unique in the County Kildare. Kilcullen was a fine town and he would be quite nervous to say that it was not. Although it has courage to look Naas, the County Town, in the face, he still thought it a small town. He was sure Kilcullen would take its place in the history of the county, but he could not find that it lifted itself out of the general flatness of the county. He should, with regret, refuse the application. He paid a tribute to Mr Salmon for the manner in which he had presented the case for the applicant.

Mr. Salmon: Thank you, your honour.

— Leinster Leader 04.05.1929.

(Credit to Dave Byrne, who took the time to trawl through the old Irish newspapers to for reports relating to Kilcullen.)

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