The Mayo Traveller Support Group (MTSG) has lodged an objection to an application by a Westport publican, Mr Chris Lavelle, for the renewal of his licence. Mr Lavelle is chairman of the Westport branch of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) and a member of its national executive.
The application for the renewal of Mr Lavelle's licence will be heard on September 19th in Westport District Court. Renewal applications for all other licences in the town will be held at the same sitting.
"MTSG has objected to the renewal of the licence of Lavelle's Bar, Bridge Street, Westport, in response to the blanket ban being imposed on Travellers by the proprietor. This is despite the appeal by Junior Minister, Willie O'Dea, to remove the ban", stated Gearoid Ó Riain, a spokesperson for MTSG.
"We now wish due legal process to take its course and in respect for the Minister's appeal for calm, we do not wish to make any further comment".
Mr Lavelle, who declined to comment on the issue, acted as chief spokesman for Westport VFI during the much publicised blanket ban of Travellers in the town's pubs.
The ban arose from alleged incidents involving Travellers that occurred during the weekend of the annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage at the end of July.
Despite the intervention of Mr O'Dea, Mr Lavelle has claimed in recent weeks that the "blanket ban" on Travellers being served in Westport's pubs is intact.
In a related row, former Fine Gael senator and Westport town councillor, Mr Patrick Durcan, has been accused by the Westport Doormen's Group of making "offensive and distressing" remarks on a recent local radio news programme.
The Doormen's Group has called on Councillor Durcan to apologise for stating that doormen were an "unpleasant sight" outside pubs and that it was creating a bad impression of the town.
In reply, Councillor Durcan has argued that his comments have been misinterpreted.
"The comments were made specifically in relation to my belief that security men are being employed by the town's publicans to ensure that the blanket ban is implemented," he said.
"Personally I find the ban insulting to our basic humanity. It is not only against the law of the land, but also, in my opinion, the moral law."