teens in Ireland at night

I've never seen kids in a pub past suppertime -- whatever that is. Laws seem to vary all over the place. however.

If the kids are not rowdy, I don't see a problem. We've always found that the B&B (as oppossed to a small hotel acting like it's a B&B just because they serve morning grub) folks were as trustworthy as anybody.

I probably depends on the nature of the kids. Also you need to undefocus on 'foreign'. Do whatever you'd do at home.

My kids were allowed to wander on their own (daylight) all over the world at that age, heck, they had kid things to do. I was probably a horrid parent, but they all came out okay. I can't think of much a kid needs to do anywhere at night.

I believe that kids are not allowed in pubs after 9:30pm. If it's ok with the B&B owner then your kids would be just fine staying at the B&B. Most rooms in B&B's have tv's so they could stay in the room and watch tv and give them a snack.

I think what Robin says is about right. Some pubs have signs out saying "no kids after 8pm", so avoid those. But, for the most part, having them there until around 9:30 or so is okay.

We were over in Doolin and Dublin last summer with my family and my sister's, my kids are little, but hers are all in their teens. We had most of hers (one stayed back to babysit ours) in the pub until 9:30 one night, the youngest was 12. We went with just the older ones a couple of nights, leaving the 14, 13, and 12 year old back in the cottage with our little ones. My sister was fine with this. Dublin was a different case, though, we didn't go out at night there, didn't feel comfortable leaving the kids, although it was probably fine.

Talk with the people at your B&B. They could probably recommend which pub you could go to with the kids.

I found there are different types of "pubs" in Ireland. Some are drinking establishments that serve little or no food and may or may not have music in the evening. Those pubs (by law) do not allow kids after 9ish (when music usually starts). Other "pubs" are more like restaurants but many have music in the evening and allow kids to stay late. Just ask the employees if its OK for your teens to stay for music.

My daughter was 11 when we were there last year and she loved experiencing trad (traditional music) in Dingle at John Benny's and at Gus O'Connor's in Doolin. I don't think you'll have a problem finding a place to enjoy music with your teens. Check with the locals--they'll know where your family can listen to great Irish music together.

If you and your husband want to experience the atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub (like O'Flaherty's in Dingle), I think you'll find most of Ireland feels very safe for leaving 15 & 13 yr olds alone for a couple hours.

Irish music is a joy no matter where you hear it;-)

If you will be in Dublin, we enjoyed the buskers (street musicians) in the Temple Bar district where you can stroll/shop/eat with your teens.

Many musicians have CDs of their music available for purchase, which I highly recommend, but also record a bit of pub music on your camera for an awesome keepsake.

Enjoy your journey

The LAW in Ireland is no kids after 9:30. It is NOT a case of the pub letting them be there. At least in some cities they have closed the pub when found.

In the village where my relatives live in the West of Ireland there are 12 pubs and children are not allowed in any of them at night. All of the pubs in that particular village have outdoor seating areas for patrons who smoke cigarettes, and I saw a few of the locals get around the "no kids inside the pub at night" rule by simply having the kids hang outdoors on the smoking benches while Mom & Dad have a pint. Some of these pubs have music going on inside, so Mom & Dad would take turns popping inside the pub to watch a tune & order the next round which they'd enjoy outside.

Small villages may overlook it if you keep your party outdoors...but in large cities like Dublin or Galway, forget it. They crack down hard on things like that. Again, outdoor seating area = smoking section. If you are the types who are bothered by second hand smoke, leave the kiddies at the B&B or take turns with your husband going out on your own to listen to music at the pubs while one of you stays with your teens.

I have been somewhat baffled by this because many posters are adamant that kids aren't allowed in pubs, yet we were allowed to listen to trad at both John Benny's (http://www.johnbennyspub.com/) and Gus O'Connor's Pub (http://www.gusoconnorsdoolin.com/) I don't believe 2 well known establishments risked being shut down for an 11 year old tourist.

This is what the law says:
(http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2003/en/act/pub/0031/sec0014.html#partiii-sec14)

"34.—(1) The holder of a licence of licensed premises shall not, subject to subsections (2) to (4) of this section, allow a person under the age of 18 years to be in the bar of the licensed premises at any time.

(2) (a) It shall not be unlawful for such a holder to allow a child who is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian to be in the bar of the licensed premises between 10.30 a.m. (12.30 p.m. on a Sunday) and 9.00 p.m.

(3) It shall not be unlawful for such a holder to allow a person who is aged at least 15 years but under the age of 18 years to be in the bar between 10.30 a.m. (12.30 p.m. on Sundays) and 9.00 p.m.

(4) It shall not be unlawful for such a holder to allow a child who is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or a person who is aged at least 15 years but under the age of 18 years to be in the bar on the occasion of a private function at which a substantial meal is served to persons attending the function.

“bar” means any open bar or any part of licensed premises exclusively or mainly used for the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor and includes any counter or barrier across which drink is or can be served to the public"

(part 2 to follow)

I believe the key phrase is "in the bar of the licensed premises". It certainly does NOT say kids are forbidden from being in all restaurants/pubs that serve alcohol after 9 PM (10 PM in Summer) I believe it means kids are forbidden from sitting in the bar area or at the bar itself, which explains our experience.

Both John Bs and O'Connor's "premises" are broken up into smaller areas by archways, steps and open walls. At John Bs, the bar is in 1 of the front sections, the music was played in a middle section and we sat in 1 of the rear sections. They are not separate rooms, all are open to each other.

At O'Connor's it was similar; we sat in the area near the turf fire and music, the bar was in an area to the side and there was a TV in an area beyond that. At those 2 places we were not sitting "in the bar of the licensed premises."

At O'Flaherty's we were told we couldn't stay due to my daughter's age (11). It looked to be 1 large room with a bar along 1 side, so no matter where a person sat, they would be "in the bar" of the premises.

I still say not to worry, I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy music as a family in many places, including pubs. (O'Connor's Pub helped establish Doolin as the "Trad capital of Ireland")

You might check for festivals that might be happening, too, as they'll surely include music. Try searching Discover Ireland (http://www.discoverireland.ie/festivals/Festivals-and-Events-Search.aspx)

Enjoy Ireland!

This subject is interesting to me as I will be taking my 16-year-olds to Ireland next month. They are music lovers and would really enjoy live music. I hope to have them join us as long as they can. So exciting to be this close to finally going! :)

In Ireland we saw lots of kids/teens in pubs with adults/parents. DId not seem to be a prob. Ask your B&B or hotel for sure in adv if you are still worried.

RE:16 year olds. Do they look their age or older? I used to live in a small town in Co Cavan and there were a few pubs that allowed (turned a blind eye)to over 16's, with or without their parents. As the legal drinking age is 18 here..some pubs do not card. Some smaller towns and villages are a bit more relaxed in their enforcement of ages.

I'll step back from this the argument of if and when kids can sit in pubs (I have no idea), but let me comment on another point the poster raised. "but not quite comfortable leaving them alone in foreign country at night." I remember seeing children as young as 10 walking around Ireland unaccompanied, even in Dublin. I found it particularly striking to see three or four young girls walking home from field hockey practice AFTER DARK through Dublin, unescorted by any adult, something you would never see in the US. So, either Irish parents must be really careless, Irish kids are much more mature than Americans, or Ireland is a remarkably safe country for children.

I've seen kids in many pubs during traditional music sessions.

Unlike here, where the music starts around 9:30, the music in Irish pubs starts earlier and often ends by 9:00 (possibly only a weekday phenomenon). When you check in, ask where you are likely to see a traditional session - that should get you pointed in the right direction.

And isn't there a law where kids over 16 can drink in a pub with their parents? Or am I wrong....

I don't think the OP (who can correct me if I'm wrong) thinks that Ireland is necessarily an unsafe place for kids. It's different if your kids are at their home at night, where they can call a neighbor if they need anything, and being at a hotel in a foreign country, where they don't know anyone. When we went out in Doolin, we were just a few blocks away from our kids and their older cousins.