A ban on casual traders offering hair braiding on the city’s streets has been proposed.
Labour Party city councillor, Billy Cameron said the ‘new Irish’ were engaging in the practice of offering hair braiding on Shop Street.
He wants the practice outlawed in time for this Summer’s Galway Races.
During Race Week last year, he counted eight people engaging in hair braiding on temporary stalls along the city’s main shopping thoroughfare. They were also on the street during Galway Arts Festival fortnight.
He said they were not beggars or buskers but they were detracting from the city centre.
He wants the practice banned, “not because they are not Irish” but because it detracts from the city, and detracts from other businesses. The hair braiders are also occupying space that could be used by buskers, he said.
Cllr Cameron said the hair braiders give off the wrong image of Galway, and they were taking away the enjoyment of the city. They were also impacting on established businesses, who pay commercial rates.
“It should be nipped in the bud now. They should not be allowed to operate next summer,” he fumed.
Senior Gardaí said at a meeting of the City Joint Policing Committee they were unsure under what law they could take action against people who are engaging in hair braiding.
Councillor Niall McNelis said he was aware of a case before the courts in which a hair-braider was prosecuted, under Casual Trading regulations.
Superintendent Marie Skehill said it may have been for obstruction.
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