A Permanent interactive exhibition on the history of traditional Irish music, and a separate whiskey museum will form part of the planned new multi-million-pound Smithfield Village development in Dublin, the Circuit Licensing Court was told yesterday.
Mr Tom Morgan, counsel for Devy Leisure Ltd, said that the music expo would be housed in the proposed new 77-bedroom hotel on the east side of Smith field, just off the North Quays.
He told Judge Dominic Lynch that the hotel would include a number of integrated elements including the entire refurbishment and redevelopment of the landmark Jameson chimney, which would be encased in glass walls with a glass lift from the hotel forecourt to an observation deck two storeys up.
Mr Morgan said the £20 million hotel would also house a state of the art permanent interactive exhibition chronicling the history of Irish traditional music.
The centre would have facilities for performances as well as its own full-time educational officer, who would conduct tourist and school group tours.
Mr Gerry Fagan, a director of Devy Leisure Ltd, gave evidence of his company's plans for the hotel and exhibition centre. He was granted a declaratory order. This means that, if completed in accordance with plans presented in court, the hotel will automatically be granted a drinks licence.
Watercourse Distillery Ltd was granted a licence and restaurant certificate for its new Irish Distilleries Whiskey Museum in Smith field. This will form part of the development.
Mr Morgan told Judge Lynch the museum would replace the old Whiskey Corner visitors' centre.
"Whiskey Corner had 46,000 visitors last year and was turning away tourists," Mr Morgan said. "The new Whiskey Museum which is now open will be capable of dealing with 125,000 visitors, rising to 250,000 visitors a year by the turn of the century."