Stringfellows Closes In Dublin

Campaigners Delighted At Club's Closure After Just Five Months In Business

It was launched in a blaze of publicity and controversy, promising 'high class entertainment', but just five months later Peter Stringfellow's Dublin strip club closed its doors on Friday.

Those who campaigned against the club, including Dublin's Deputy Lord Mayor, Aodhan O Riordain, said they were 'delighted' with the news.

Mr Stringfellow though was less epansive.

His PR people issued a statement blaming ongoing pickets against the club and a licensing wrangle which postponed the club's opening until February as reasons for the closure.

The club caused huge controversy when its planned opening was first raised late last year.

Residents living in the Dominic Street area, close to the site of the club, reacted angrily saying that it wasn't welcome in a residential area.

Nightly protests were held outside it when it opened in February.

As the weeks wore on religious groups, such as the Legion of Mary staged weekly protests also.

Mr Stringfellow put a brave face on the closure.

"It is with disappointment that we learned of the closure of the Stringfellows venture in Ireland," he said.

"It is particularly unfortunate because of the success the club had been enjoying recently".

Since its opening the club, which charged customers 30Euro for a three minute private 'dance' has been dogged by rumours of low attendance.

The company which operated the club, Sabley Taverns Ltd, which operated the club said the protests had led to the loss of the 'corporate client' which had put a huge hole in profits.

However those who led the pickets said the closure was good news for the local community.

"I campaigned against it because it was in a residential area, so I am delighted it has closed," said Dublin's Deputy Mayor, Aodhan O Riordain.

"Having a strip bar next to Dominic Street does not help our attempts to regenerate this area of Dublin.

"I think the protests highlighted the fact that this isa residential area and that people are proud of it and I am sure the protests had something to do with the closure.

"We didn't campaign against the club on moral grounds, although I don't agree with strip bars.

"Our campaign was based on the fact that it was completely inappropriate to have this venue in that particular area"