Draft bylaws call for casual trader licences

IF draft Casual Trading Bylaws are adopted in Kilrush, street traders, with some exceptions, would have to hold a casual trading licence for a specified event. This would include people who sell Christmas trees in Kilrush town square. They would have to pay a daily fee of €12.70 for their casual trading licence.

Furthermore, the casual trading that the licence holder engages in would have to be carried out in accordance with the licence issued by Kilrush Town Council.
At the October meeting of Kilrush Town Council, members expressed concern at the erecting of casual trading stalls in Frances Street for the duration of the horse fair, often directly in front of business premises. Horse fairs are held in Kilrush four times annually on March 25, the first Thursday in June, October 10 and November 23. Traders will have to pay €200 for a single annual licence which would allow them to legally trade at all of the four horse fairs.
The draft bylaws indicate that an application for what is called an annual event casual trading licence has to be made 30 days in advance of the trading.
However, an application for a casual trading licence to sell Christmas trees next month only has to be made seven days in advance of trading. A number of casual traders traditionally sell Christmas trees in the environs of Kilrush town square.
Casual traders who operate without a licence could be liable to a fine of €1,270 if convicted of trading illegally.
Kilrush Town Council will appoint an officer to control and supervise the administration of casual trading in the town.
The selling of newspapers or religious objects on the day of a service at any of the local churches will be exempt, as will the sale of ice cream from vans and the sale of periwinkles.
Another element of the proposed bylaws will prevent traders from plucking turkeys or geese at their stall, while it will be illegal to trim, gut or clean fish.
The playing of music or any form of broadcasting from trading stalls will also be outlawed according to the draft bylaws. Casual trading will only be allowed to take place between 9am and 6pm.
A copy of the proposed draft bylaws can be inspected in Kilrush Town Hall until Wednesday, November 24 next from 9.30am to 5pm daily. Furthermore, the bylaws are also available for inspection on www.kilrush.ie.