This article is from page 20 of the 2012-10-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
A PROPOSAL to introduce X-Factor style auditions for buskers in Ennis has been rejected by members of Ennis Town Council.
Fine Gael’s Mary Coote Ryan was among four councillors who voted against the motion put forward by her party colleague Johnny Flynn at the council’s October meeting.
In a notice of motion, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) called on “Ennis Town Council draw up street entertainment byelaws to deal with busking and the provision of small street public performance spaces (spotaí ceol) to enable performers book at targeted time”.
Cllr Flynn told the meeting that similar byelaws had been introduced in Dublin while other areas such as Galway, Killarney and Westport auditioned buskers. He said he had brought forward the motion to ensure there is a high standard of singers and musicians performing on the streets of Ennis. He said his proposal would give opportunities for young musicians to perform. Supporting the motion, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the quality of some of the buskers in Ennis could be questioned.
She said the proposal could pave the way for a busking festival to bring the best performers from Ireland and around Europe to Ennis.
However the Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind), told the meeting that he strongly opposed the motion, saying, “we are tying ourselves in knots with byelaws”.
He said there are only four or five buskers regularly performing in Ennis every week.
Cllr Brennan added, “I’ve never seen an influx of buskers into Ennis, not even for the Fleadh Nua. There is no music on the streets of Ennis.”
Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said there is a need to allocate specific areas for busking. However, he said the introduction of byelaws could cause problems for the council and performers.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said Ennis “cannot compete” with towns like Westport because they have more hotels. He said the town should be looking to capitalize on the opportunities created by new coach parking facilities.
Town Manager Gerard Dollard said that while he agreed with the sentiment of the motion, the drafting of new byelaws would require the allocation of significant resources, which the council cannot spare. Mr Dollard said there is also a view that byelaws would take from the spontaneity of street busking.
He added, “I don’t think there is a significant issue with busking on the streets of Ennis.” The motion was put to a vote. Councillors Tommy Brennan, Mary Coote Ryan, Frankie Neylon and Michael Guilfoyle voted against. Councillors Johnny Flynn and Mary Howard voted for. Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) was not present at the meeting due to another commitment. Cllrs Peter Considine (FF) and Brian Meaney (GP) had left the meeting prior to the vote being taken.