This article is from page 3 of the 2011-03-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE owner of a new erotic sex shop has vowed to defy the “Joe Duffy brigade” when he opens his premises on O’Connell Street on St Patrick’s Day.
Businessman Pat Glynn will officially open the Erotica shop this Thursday and has signed a one year lease on the premises which was occupied by Moran’s until 2006 and most recently by the Two Euro Shop.
Speaking to The Clare People yesterday, Mr Glynn said that his shop was not a brothel and nothing illegal would be allowed to take place on the premises.
“People have questioned my decision to open an adult shop in the current age where internet porn is free and easily accessible, however Ennis has a huge population of people over 35 that have difficulty using the internet and after looking at the success of adult shops in places like Cork and Waterford I decided to take the leap of faith and face the backlash of the Joe Duffy brigade,” he told The Clare People .
“The shop will be selling a range of sex toys, magazines, DVDs, erotic chocolates, lubricants, sex games and other fun items. For the people that think it will promote illegal activities I can assure them that we will not be promoting anything of the sort.
“There is a difference between an adult store and a brothel. Sex is no longer something to be ashamed about and I do feel the minority that do have a problem with it clearly think we’re involved in illegal activities.”
Mr Glynn did admit that the location on O’Connell street “may be controversial” but said that the shop will be strictly over 18’s and efforts will be made to tone down the shop during daylight hours.
“We will do our best to keep the shop out of the public eye until after 8pm – we will have the blinds pulled and the pink neon light switched off until this time,” he said.
The head of the O’Connell’s Street Traders Association, Gearoid Mannion, has welcomed the new business, saying as long as nothing illegal is taking place, most local traders would welcome the adult shop.
“They will be paying rates the same as all the rest of us so, once it’s all legal, why should anyone have a problem with it. It’s up to the public now to vote with their feet after that and decide if it is going to be success,” he said.