City centre buskers cause concern to local businesses

Issued : Wednesday 23 March, 2016

Concerns have been raised among retailers in Galway who believe a code of conduct is not sufficient to tackle busking issues in the city.

Following a meeting with the various retail and traders associations in Galway city centre, it is believed businesses want by-laws to be introduced to tackle busking issues such as sound, time and circle acts.

Galway City Labour Councillor Niall McNelis believes “guidelines will not be respected” and said it was “a pity” that enforceable by-laws were not being put forward following a recent consultation process.

“By-laws give power to Gardaí. We want amplification to be limited to 75db and that if a busker refuses to reduce the sound below that when asked to by a Garda or community warden that the power is there to remove the amps. This will not happen with a non-legal code,” Cllr McNelis said.

According to Cllr McNelis, the Galway City Business Association (GCBA), Chamber of Commerce and numerous businesses and buskers also said they wanted the performing of acts to be limited in any one location to two hours.

This again can only be carried out with a by-law,There is no written guarantee that the Garda or Wardens will act with the code of conduct, he added.

Cllr McNelis, who runs his own business along with is wife Aideen, Claddagh and Celtic Jewellery Co., is also calling for circle acts to be restricted on Shop Street until after 6pm.

“These would be agreeable by businesses if prior arrangement was done with City Council or Gardaí. There is only a small minority of buskers that are causing the majority of problems.

“There is no need to have a pilot study carried out, businesses are struggling, they welcomed the process of submissions and all have said that guidelines will not work. Unlike the Dublin model no one is looking for permits, insurance certs or ID to be put on view or even auditions. They just want to be able to operate, keep jobs going and have an environment that is welcoming,” he added.