Gardaí involved as protesters soaked outside new lapdancing club in Kilkenny
Throwback: Two articles originally published in The Kilkenny People in 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008:
A small group of protesters staged a peaceful protest outside Whispers lapdancing club on Parliament Street in Kilkenny City on Friday night.
The group which consisted of ten individuals from the city and county stood outside the club from 8pm in an attempt to draw attention to their opposition to the controversial club. They vowed to continue protesting outside the club every Friday until the club closes.
Although the club was granted a licence last month, Friday was the first night where dancers performed for customers.
Club manager Dave Coughlan told The Kilkenny People that the club was happy with the level of business and added that he looked forward to continuing to do business in Kilkenny.
“There was a good crowd in on Saturday and Sunday. We are not looking for any hassle and there are a good number of people who are supporting us by coming in and giving us business,” he said.
He also remarked that he hoped that now the club was up and running that the “media hype” would die down.
Jerry Hogan from Kilkenny braved the cold weather to voice his disgust at the establishment.
“I think that this sort of behaviour leads to the exploitation of women. I have fears that lapdancing and the sex industry is also connected to human trafficking and the statistics show that some of the women working in these establishments [across the world] are not willing participants. People have the freedom to come here but we also have the freedom to protest. It is imperative that legislation is introduced that allows local residents to have more of a say on whether or not these clubs are allowed to open in their communities.”
Several of the people gathered outside were protesting on religious grounds. Mary Jacinta Murphy from Keatingstown said that she was opposed to the club as it was “against the will of God”.
“These clubs can corrupt young people. Young people can be vulnerable and we have a duty to protect them,” she said.
Ann Kelleher, who is from the city pointed out that the club lowers the city’s image.
“Kilkenny is becoming more like Temple Bar and this type of club will attract the wrong type of people to the city.”
Cllr Sean Ó hArgáin also joined the protestors to lend his support to their campaign.
“There are two major reports which link the exploitation of women and human trafficking to the sex industry. Some people think that this is all a bit of a laugh but this is not about a bit of craic. In the UK police statistics show that the rate of sexual assaults and rape increase in areas where these clubs exist. We have to stop calling it a lapdancing club; it is a sex club,” he remarked.
The Labour politician also pointed out that the location was completely unsuitable.
“The club is only 300 metres from St Canice’s Cathedral and it is close to the Watergate Theatre. The people behind this club could not have picked a more sensitive location. We have spent a lot of money developing the Watergate theatre. At Christmas 2,000 people, mainly young families went to see the pantomime. Next year they will walk out and see a strip club in front of them,” he added.
Friday, March 7, 2008:
Despite claims that the drenching given to protestors outside of Kilkenny’s lapdancing club on February 22 was inadvertent and that the perpetrator may have just been “watering the flowers”, Gardaí are taking the incident very seriously and are running a full investigation.
About six local people were continuing their weekly protest outside the club in Parliament Street on the Friday night when a bucketful of water was poured down over about ten protestors, several of whom were from the Legion of Mary religious group.
A Garda spokesperson said Gardaí are taking the incident very seriously and are running a full investigation.
Sources inside the club claimed the downpour may have occurred when somebody was watering the plants on the outside of the building.
But further investigation showed there were no plants at all in the exterior shrub holders.
It was also implied that the water could have come from one of the buildings adjacent to the club, but this is thought to be unlikely.
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The soaking failed to put off the protestors, who continued their vigil and said they would continue to do so every Friday night until the club is closed.