The Circuit Court deals with applications for new on-licences, revival of expired licences, certificates and declarations.
Where to make your application
Where you make your application depends on where the premises or business is based. You will need to identify the correct circuit using our list of Circuit Court offices.
When the court sits
Circuit Court licensing sittings usually take place on the first day of the court term. This means every quarter, four times a year. However, in the Dublin Circuit Court licensing sittings occur every five weeks. Please see our Circuit Court terms and sittings page for more information.
If you a legal practitioner who submitted your application online, CSOL (Courts Service Online) will provide you with the dates of the upcoming licensing sittings. If you are a member of the public who submitted your application manually, you can contact your local court office for the dates of the upcoming licensing sittings.
How to prepare for your court hearing
Circuit Court timeframes for licensing applications vary, but generally applications require advance notice to the court and to the notice parties.
Applications also usually require specific newspaper advertisements with set notice periods. The newspaper notice lets people know a new licence has been requested and gives people in the local area the opportunity to object.
There will be a number of witnesses required in the Circuit Court. For example, An Garda Síochána will always be a notice party for licensing applications at the Circuit Court. The HSE and the fire authority are also usually notice parties. You must organise your other witnesses such as engineers and any other experts as required by the "proofs".
For new on-licence applications, you will need to show the judge that your pub was never previously licensed with a full on-licence (pub, hotel or club). For a revival application, you will need to evidence that the pub was previously licenced in the last five years. To do this, you must request that the District Court clerk in the area gives evidence to this effect. However, in some circuits the judge accepts a record of the CSOL search or a certificate from the office.
Every application has different requirements and the documents you need will vary. However, a judge or circuit may have their own additional requirements, therefore, it is advisable to first check with your local court office.
What happens in the court
At the start of a Circuit Court licensing sitting, the registrar will call out for any objectors that may be present. If you are the applicant, you usually won’t be told about an objection in advance. Any person can turn up on the day of court and raise an objection.
During the hearing the applicant and any witnesses will be required to give sworn evidence to the court. This means that you, as the applicant, will enter the witness box and the judge may ask you questions.
Usually the barrister or solicitor who is acting on behalf of the applicant will call the witnesses.
Circuit Court licensing court applications
Below you will find information on the most common applications that can be made in the Circuit Court and downloadable forms.
- New on-licence
This application allows you to apply for a first time new on-licence for a pub.
- Certificate to revive a licence
This application allows you to apply for a certificate to revive a licence which has been renewed only once through Revenue in the last five years.
- Special restaurant certificate
This application allows you to apply for a licence so that your restaurant can serve a full range of alcohol drinks.
- Declaration of suitability of a premises
This application allows you to apply for a certificate that declares a premises to be suitable to operate as a pub, hotel or nightclub.
- Substantial extension or reduction of licenced premises
This application allows you to apply for a licence where you are substantially reducing or extending an existing licensed area.
