THE owner of a private bar in the Bluestack Mountains insists people are still welcome to join him for a drink – despite a court case yesterday where he was fined €50.
Patsy Brogan, 75, owns the Bog Hotel near Frosses.
Yesterday a judge found him guilty of having alcohol for sale at the ‘pub’ without a license last year. Two other charges were found not to be proven.
Today Mr Brogan insisted that he has never charged for drink, adding: “If people want to leave money, that’s fine – if they don’t, that’s fine as well.”
Mr Brogan – pictured with his fiancee Darla Weiske – said he would continue to welcome people to his home, and the converted shed at the rear of it.
“My house is a ceili house and people are welcome to come and have a bit of craic and a wee drink if they want; sure there’s no harm in that,” he said.
“My home is not a shebeen. Never was. Never will be. I’ve never had a single complaint about the place in the past five years.
“I plan to appeal the fine and conviction and we will be applying to the court to have the drink that was taken from my home returned by the gardai.”
Yesterday’s case can be read here:
https://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/10/05/breaking-news-bog-hotel-case-patsy-brogan-guilty/