I was reading the Irish Times online and there was some VERY disturbing information about unprovoked assults...especially during the middle of the day in busy sections of cities like Dublin and Cork. People are being beaten and robbed and this article makes it sound like there are no policemen around, nor does anyone stop to help. This article makes it sound like getting beaten up or robbed is a common, everyday occurance. We are heading off to Ireland next week & I am debating whether I even want to go to Dublin or not. Has anyone been there recently who encountered such assults?

Hi Jen,<BR>Although I am from Galway, in the west of Ireland, I am currently living in Dublin. I understand why you are concerned with the crime in Dublin and I'm not going to pretend that it is a safe city, however - if you are just doing the touristy things in the tourist parts of Dublin city I'm sure you'll have nothing to worry about. Personally I think 2 days would be enough to spend in Dublin as there are much more beautiful cities in Ireland. Of course I am going to tell you that Galway is really great but Kerry and west Cork (not the city) are wonderful as well. Dublin is good for shopping, a tour of Trinity College and the Guinness Brewery....After that you should move on. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Ah, and the biggest crime in all of Ireland is when the pub runs out of Guinness....that should be dealt with as a major felony and a crime against man and god.

In my last job I was assigned to the Guinness brewery in St James', Dublin.<BR>Walking back to the hotel one evening a guy accosted me & demanded money ( I suppose you could call it an attempted mugging ). He did not succeed. He was English ( as am I ) & breathed beer fumes all over me. The Guinness brewery is in an area that is not very salubrious. If you go there stick to the main street. No other trouble to report, Irish people ( especially the barmaids ! ) are the friendliest I have ever come across ( & I've been around ! ).

We just returned last Friday from 9 days in beautiful Ireland and there was no time I felt unsafe. The quaint villages, beautiful scenery, wonderful friendly people of the Southwest part of the country are far better than some other countries in the world. We lived in Europe and West Africa for 5 years, many years ago, and travel a lot and thought Ireland was one of the gems in travel.(though every country is interesting to us) We did only spend one day in Dublin, (the only day it rained for our entire trip)....took the hop-on-hop-off bus(cream and green colored) with wonderful naration by the driver, and stayed on the bus through the l5 stops. Learned loads of information about the city and got a good birds eye<BR> view.We walked the city streets afterwards(in the daytime) and felt VERY safe...too many people not to. Lots of hustle and bussle, with clean, friendly people. We are not night people, but you probably wouldn't want to be in the Temple Bar area at night....but we did walk through in the daytime. People were just going about their business on all the streets. We went into Trinity College, the library,Book ofKells..etc. Dublin is fine for a day, but we stayed at the lovely coastal town of Dun Laoghaire , 40 min away by city bus (fun) or l5 by DART train. We skipped Cork,it's a big city, and stayed in the lovely seaside town of Kinsale. Kenmare and Dingle are other wonderful towns on the SW coast. Have a GREAT trip, and I know you will!

I've been to Ireland and Dublin in particular at least 15 times. Living in Boston, I don't do anything in Dublin I wouldn't do at home. Stick to areas that are in the main parts of the city, well-lit, in tourist areas. Don't go wandering into areas you are unsure of or that look unsavory. You have to take these articles with a grain of salt. This stuff happens in ANY big city, Boston, New York, LA. Just don't do something you won't do at home. Yes, there are many other beautiful parts of Ireland (I recommend Galway myself!) but don't neglect Dublin because of stories like this. You look hard enough, you'll find them for any city you go to. Myself, I felt perfectly comfortable walking round Dublin both alone and with friends last fall.

We got back from Ireland a few weeks ago. We only spent one day in Dublin and that was enough as the countryside is so beautiful! However, we did walk the downtown of Dublin with no problems, we walked the Temple Bar area going to pubs and a restaurant well after dark and not a problem. Of course it was really crowded, I would not have walked somewhere dark and lonely. Have a great time!

No doubt Dublin & Cork suffer from crime as does every major city in Europe and the USA. And I would not want to spend more than a day or 2 in either place - you go to Ireland for the beauty of the coutryside & quaintness of villages. And these areas are among the safest places on earth. You stand more chance of being mugged here than there. Would you wander around back streets alone late at night here? Then why would you expect it would be safe somewhere else? Just exercise common sense judgement.

hi there,<BR>a study from the UNESCO says that Ire is that country, where You have less chance to run in to a murder or rape. They dont talk about robbery and that, but I think it will be in that way.

Thanks everyone for your replies! I definately feel better. I will not worry about it & I know I will have a wonderful time!<BR><BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Jen