The Spiegeltent plagued with licensing issues in Cork

The Spiegeltent, which opens next week as part of Cork's Midsummer Festival, has become the latest casualty of Ireland's anomalous licensing system.

The events will go ahead as planned, but under the conditions of the Club License granted to the Festival organisers last week, punters will have to buy their tickets at least 24 hours in advance of Spiegeltent events.

"Unfortunately we had to settle for a club license as this was the only way that the Spiegeltent could go ahead," says Laura Smith, spokesperson from the Cork Midsummer Festival.

"The club license means that if people want to go to any of the Spiegltent gigs they have to be a member of the Festival for at least 24 hours beforehand. So people cannot purchase tickets on the night of each performance."

Although this is the first time that the handmade "tent of mirrors" will appear in Cork, the Spiegeltent has been staged in Dublin for the last two years as part of the Fringe Festival. The inconvenience with regards to licensing has only become problematic in Cork, the European City of Culture.

"Apparently the licensing laws are different in Cork," says Smith. "And that's a reflection of the state of the licensing laws - that in Dublin it can be a very different situation and unfortunately we're faced with this in Cork."

Festival organisers advise punters to purchase their tickets for the Spiegeltent at least 24 hours in advance of performances to avoid the disappointment of being turned away on the night.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Festival Box Office (15 Grand Parade, Cork) or by telephone on 1890 200 555.

The Spiegeltent will be located at Kyrl's Quay, at the top of the Coal Quay, and will remain open from June 14 to June 25. Performers include Camille O'Sullivan, Stanley Super 800, Jape, Fred, Ian Whitty and John Spillane amongst others. See www.corkfestival.ie for full listings.