Gardaí yesterday recovered a number of machetes, pickaxe handles and knives from the grounds of Tinakilly House Hotel in Co Wicklow, following altercations at a wedding at the hotel on Thursday, writes Tim O'Brien.
The Garda is investigating disturbances which broke out among a group of about 60 Travellers who had been attending the wedding at the four-star, country house hotel.
Tinakilly, a large Victorian mansion that has extensive gardens and sea views, was the location in 1994 for a special get-together and dinner for members of Albert Reynolds's government.
It is a popular spot for weddings and was recently acquired by a consortium of developers Cova Properties for about €10 million. Cova already owns some 200 acres around the hotel.
In a statement yesterday the new owners said only that the hotel's "operations have not been disrupted in any way by an incident which occurred on its grounds after a wedding reception on the evening of Thursday, July 26th."
It concluded by thanking "staff and An Garda Síochána for their prompt and effective handling of this incident".
Local sources said yesterday that while the wedding had initially been booked by someone who was not a member of the Traveller community, the hotel had learned of the community's involvement and decided to proceed with the arrangements.
Yesterday gardaí combing the grounds for weapons kept a low profile as another wedding was taking place.
A number of those attending Thursday's wedding had obviously been armed.
Gardaí said they were initially called to the hotel after a fracas broke out at about 11pm.
A large contingent of the force from Wicklow and Wexford was deployed as was the Garda helicopter.
The fighting took place in the driveway of the hotel and the building itself was not damaged.
Most of the participants in the fighting fled as gardaí arrived although a number were taken in for questioning.
"So far machetes, pickaxes, slash-hooks, hatchets, wheelbraces and knives have been recovered" a Garda source said yesterday.
Reports that a sawn-off shotgun and a pistol were produced during the row are being investigated but it is understood that these kinds of weapons were not found during yesterday's search.
Gardaí said they would describe the disturbances as a "serious incident".