Visiting Ireland with my 17 year old son, hoping to enjoy music in pubs -- what are the age restrictions for drinking establishments (and are these enforced)?

If he is 17 don't worry and if any asks say he is 18. He probably looks it anyway. If he was a younger teen it might be a problem but if he is with you anyway its not an issue.

A lot of the time I saw signs saying that children under 18 couldn't be in the pub after 9:30 -- which is when the music starts in some of the towns. In some places, like the Temple Bar in Dublin, the music starts earlier. This rule wasn't posted everywhere, either.

You don't mention what time of year or exactly where in Ireland you're going. And I think both of those things may make a difference.

We were there (Galway, Westport and Ennis) the last week of March with our 20 year old daughter and 16 year old son. The 16 year old actually probably looks older than the 20 year old. We were in the pubs every night, until closing at least two nights. Never did we have a problem. Our 20 year old drank Bailey's and was never asked for ID.

Our second night in Westport there were very young kids in the pub until quite late.

I think the chances are good that you won't have a problem.

Thanks for the info. He is 17 1/2 -- we are going in August -- 3 days Dublin, 3 days Dingle, 3 days Clifden, 1 day Galway. Sounds like we will be able to enjoy music and a pint, and his company!

If you're in Galway a Saturday afternoon in August, several of the Pubs in the 'Pedestrian-only' area have Matinee Trad Irish music sessions. Two that I know of are Taaffes & Og Caeli. They are very close to one another. We noted that several of the musicians were very young, and play traditional Connemara instruments.

Try Tigh Coili across from Taffes. I found the seesion there to be much better than the one at Taffes. I've seen the same folks playing at Taffes a number of times.

Bill

FWIW, we found the crowd at Tigh Coili (and presumably, Taafe's as well, since so many people seemed to be going back and forth) to be almost all tourists. Besides our group, there was a very large group of NYC policemen, a large group of German tourists, etc. I'd be very surprised if anyone in that place, other than the bartenders, was Irish. However, at Tigh Neachtain, we found pretty much the opposite. We may well have been the only tourists. And the music was better.

We were at Tigh Neachtain late on a Sunday afternoon. Our visit to Tigh Coili was Monday night. That may have made a difference.

Thank you for the wonderful pub/trad music suggestions -- I have printed these out. How about in Dingle? Dublin? Clifden?

In Galway and Limrick many of the pubs checked id

NYC policemen? Where's the problem there?

While we were there last year no one checked id, just be cool about it and have an awesome time

Officially people under 18 cannot be served alcohol in a pub and until 2 years ago people under 18 could be in a pub, provided they were accompanied by an adult and were not drinking alcohol. Some pubs had their own rules in relation to children on the premises.
However, an equality case on the grounds of family status, highlighted some issues which resulted in a ruling that people under 18 cannot be in a pub at all after nine o'clock at night. This was very controversial at the time and some publicans did not agree. What you will find is that the rule is imposed more in cities than in rural areas. Even then it relates more to younger children. A 17 year old who is with an adult should not have any problem being in a pub even in the cities, especially in pubs where traditional music is played.
Suggested traditional music pubs in Dublin:
Cobblestone, Smithfield
The Brazen Head, Bridgefoot Street
Hughes, Chancery Street (behind Four Courts);
In Dingle check our Dick Macks in Green Street.

TripMom

You will be ok outside of Dublin. In most of the pubs in the Country/Rural Ireland, they dont mind letting youngsters stay a bit late, they are more relaxed about the rules.

question for NEDSIRELAND: i am going with my boyfriend to carne golf course-we were going to stay one night in belmullet, to save on driving a long distance after playing - do you recommend a place and is there a town to speak of? pus)?

There are two hotels in Belmullet - The Western Strands on the main street in town and the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, a new hotel close to the town.
There are several B & Bs in the area and you should find some on the internet.
There is a good pub in Barrack Street called An Ceibh. (food for food as well as drink).

Check out B & Bs on www.irishtourist.com
If you check Mayo you will find accommodation in Belmullet area.

found drom cahoin (sp?) which received very favorable writeups, also heard about an cheib-will def check it out!-thanks!!