Cork pub operators fined after customers found on the premises after hours   

A night of music at a busy rural watering hole known simply as ‘The Pub’ went on too long, according to the district court where the operating company was prosecuted for allowing customers to remain on the premises outside of the licensed trading hours.

Garda Trish O’Sullivan told Macroom District Court that a garda patrol was passing The Pub at Carriganima on the Macroom-Millstreet road in the early hours of August 24, 2025. The lights were on and gardaí entered through the unlocked front door at 1.45am.

Inside, 10 people had drinks, many of which looked freshly poured.

The customers were asked to leave, and it was noted that no licence was on display.

Patrick Goold, defending, said the operating company that was being prosecuted — El Tercer Lugar Ltd — did not have any previous convictions, though the company nominee Matthew Neville did have a conviction for a breach of licence in 2024.

Mr Goold said there had been music at The Pub that night. The band were packing up, and a number of customers were waiting for lifts and taxis home when the gardaí arrived.

Mr Goold said his client apologised and accepted that the customers should not have still been on the premises at that hour.

Judge Joanne Carroll said she noted that running a rural pub could be “challenging” and it “seemed to be an orderly situation”. She accepted the apology.

The company was convicted and fined €250, and allowed four months to pay.

• Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme