Those seeking love at this year's month-long Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival in north Clare have suffered an early blow to their romance prospects.
This follows a district court judge cutting back planned extended opening hours for pubs at September’s festival after garda concerns.
At Ennis District Court, publicans across Lisdoonvarna sought a blanket extension of opening hours to serve alcohol to 2.30am through an "exemption for a special event" application under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962.
The publicans were seeking the extension across Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, for five weekends of the festival, from Friday 30 August to Sunday 29 September.
The licensed premises seeking the 2.30am extension included The Ravine, The Ritz, The Rathbaun, The Royal Spa, Meg McGuires, The Imperial, The Hydro, The Matchmaker, The Roadside Tavern, The Wild Honey Inn, The Thomond and White’s Castle.
However, Judge Alec Gabbett rejected the application from the publicans and instead extended the opening hours to 1.30am for the five weekends - one hour less than the request.
The judge made his ruling despite solicitor John Casey commenting that the "serious work" for singles attending the festival begins at 1.30am.
Judge Gabbett said that serving time until 2.30am "would be the latest exemption I have granted yet".
On behalf of gardaí, Sergeant John Burke of Ennis Garda Station said: "We have a difficulty with it."
Acting as agent in the case for M Petty & Co, Mr Casey suggested a compromise of 2am.
"The poor men and women who didn't get hitched up last year get another opportunity this year," Mr Casey said.
Judge Gabbett asked: "Would that extra hour make all the difference?"
In reply, Mr Casey said that, at that time of the morning, "time is running out and that hour will become very, very important in determining their future."
Sgt Burke remained firm and told Judge Gabbett: "That is our position."
The judge said: "1.30am is perfectly sufficient."
Referring to the numbers of Ukrainians and International Protection (IP) applicants being accommodated in Lisdoonvarna hotels, Judge Gabbett said: "It is a very busy town, every hotel is full already before visitors come."
"They are all sleeping at this hour - they are not interested in matchmaking," he added.
