Auld lang wine Gardai shut down New Year's Eve party after finding 15 people in Kildare shebeen

People who had gathered in a shebeen in Kildare for a New Year’s Eve party had their plans disrupted when gardai arrived and shut it down. 

Gardai are carrying out a full investigation into the discovery of the illegal boozer near Kildare Town.

Officers in Kildare arrived with a search warrant at the premises yesterday evening at approximately 8.30pm.

Upon carrying out the search, the discovered some 15 people socialising in a shed at the rear of a house.

Photos show it was kitted out with beer taps, chairs, a sofa, GAA and rubgy flags, an arcade game and a pool table.

“The shed had all the trappings of a traditional pub,” a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said.

“Gardaí took details of all persons present within the shed, seized the intoxicating liquor and the drink optics and spirit dispensers.”

They added that investigations are ongoing and a full investigation file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for direction.

Gardai have uncovered a number of shebeens in recent months since lockdown restrictions curtailed the operation of pubs and restaurants.

Earlier in December, a search was carried out on a suspected shebeen in Navan, Co Meath, where gardaí found 30 people socialising and drinking.

In late November, gardai carrying out a search of a suspected shebeen in Kerry discovered a fully operational bar at the premises.

The search was carried out as part of Operation Navigation at the suspected shebeen in Causeway.

Just after 8pm Gardai entered the premises under warrant and found the fully operational bar.

It had a number of beer taps along with a fully operational cooler room with gas lines and cooler to operate the taps.

The premises was fitted with a number of tables, chairs, pool table, dart board, arcade games and an 80 inch flat screen television.

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

And the month before that Gardai found another fully operational pub near Athy in Kildare.

They seized a significant amount of alcohol and bar equipment after the search and there were several beer taps on the bar, along with an under bar cooler and kegs.

The premises was fitted with a bar, stools, tables, chairs, 70 inch flat screen television, and a full size pool table.

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