pickpocket/theft issues in Ireland?

In four trips (two of them solo) I have never been in a situation in Ireland where I felt remotely at risk for pickpocketing or theft, even in Dublin. I carry a purse or a daypack. As you say, you still need to remain aware, but I never felt at risk anywhere.

I personally don't feel Ireland is in the same league with Italy, France, Spain.... I agree you need to still be aware of your surroundings. As in mainland Europe, the big cities are more likely to expose you to the pickpockets. Even in Ireland, I recommend everyone use a money belt and women get rid of their purses.

To me, Dublin felt safer than New York....

We have personally never had any "crime" problems on our several visits to Ireland. (We always skip Dublin, however.)....What we have noticed, crime-related, is that all of those areas where one would park a car and walk away to admire a view or an historic property, seem to have signs, "Thieves operate in this area. Do not leave valuables visible in car." If your itinerary includes car travel, you might want to be sure your rental car has a closed trunk, not a hatchback.

FWIW, in my visits to Europe I have personally witnessed four muggings, one of them was in Dublin. It happened in broad daylight on Grafton St, and the thief appeared to by a junkie. While Ireland may be safer than some other places, it has bad guys.

The biggest gripe my family members who live over in Ireland have about crime generally happens during the summer months when they start complaining how they need to lock up their bicycles and garages as soon as they spot the caravan of "tinkers" (aka Travellers) who like to set up camp and then go around the villages offering their services for home repairs, but really they are scoping out what may be laying out in someone's yard that they could possibly steal. In response to Cynthia's comment about signs she has seen posted, they are also the ones who tend to visit some of the parking lots of major tourist sites in the rural/coastal areas during these same summer months as they know cars are left unattended and they may be able to get some money or other valuables from them. Even still, this kind of opportunistic property theft doesn't happen anywhere near as much as it does in other countries. And yes, like any major city in the world, there will be some sketchy neighborhoods (although Dublin's sketchy parts are a pretty good distance from most of what the average tourist would want to see) and you will see a few homeless people or drug addicts every now and then in the city - but it's actually far less of a common sight than you would experience in San Francisco or L.A.

Kathy, When I was there, I did not have any problems with pick pockets nor did I see any. However, just be aware, as if you were in any other city, wear your money belt and you should be fine.