This is the stadium licence for the RDS, which may apply to other events here with alcohol sales... or may not. Its rather hard to tell.
Without getting in to the weeds of event licences, and potentially getting something very wrong; event bars at otherwise unlicenced premises get covered by a temporary extension on the pub licence of another licence holder in good standing.
The main players in this game are the Madigan Group, who have a number of pubs around Dublin; and are certainly involved in the running of bars at some events here - you'll see them on your card statements from the Beer Festival, for instance. Guinness used to do this also, but sold out of the business a long time ago.
National Sporting Arena licences on the other hand are a 'new' (2003) class of licence for major sporting arenas - GAA, rugby, football and boxing stadia have these but the Minister can decide on other types if they want to.
So what events have I been to in the RDS that were definitely on the RDS stadium licence? I suspect beer festivals are not; and are using a Madigan extension. But what about gigs?
They're held in the actual stadium bowl, most of the time - indoor ones are not - but are not sporting occasions. However, the legislation refers to events "whether of a sporting or non-sporting nature" that "involves the use of some or all of the playing area or pitch in the arena" - so Linkin Park on the pitch probably *did* use the licence.
The licence also covers "functions", defined as " a conference, exhibition, seminar or reception which is held at a designated national sporting arena but does not involve the use of the playing area or pitch". Does this cover the beer festivals? Almost certainly not, they're not in the stadium bit of the RDS. Can't see it covering a Simmonscourt gig either.
I'd drunk at a match here anyway, as well as some gigs on the pitch; so I'm sure I'm covered. But I'm also sure I shouldn't have put this on September's revisit list.
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