lhazlette

We are traveling to southwest Ireland in late September with my parents who HATE the smell of smoke and with my inlaws who want to spend a vast amount of time in pubs (they don't smoke but don't mind smoke). I'm wondering if anyone has been there recently to know whether the ban has been reinforced in this area. Also any recommendations on places to go that are smoke free (at least some of the time) to enjoy good Irish music and the local culture would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

PalQ

there was a detailed article in the NYTimes on this recently. Yes, the ban is being enforced stringently, with loss of public house license being taken away if it's not enforced. The article mentioned one pub in Galway challenging the law - and this was by having a separate smoking lounge in an upstairs area - totally removed from the main pub. Even this is not tolerated but what has happened here i havn't read. So it sounds like the ban is being 100% enforced, according to the article.

mckim

We were in southwest Ireland in July and ate in a lot of pubs and some were in very small towns. The people who wanted to smoke went outside and no one in any of the pubs we went to smoked inside. I was amazed that the smoking ban was working so well.

IrishEyes

The smoking ban in all public places (as well as pubs) is firmly enforced in Ireland. The pub in Galway that was defying the ban has now stepped back in line with the law after the government threatened to shut them down. Smokers now smoke outside of buildings but that could be a problem if you sit near an open door or window at a pub.

FromAtlanta

I wish England had a smoking ban!

SiobhanP

I am continually amazed at how people don't believe the law is enforced over here. Its passed and stringently enforced and there are hefty fines for the pubican.

The pub in Galway did it for a week or so and it stopped once the threat of legal action was mentioned to the owner. I think it was a stunt anyway as he got loads of free publicity.

There is NO SMOKING in bars and restaurants. It's the law and the only place I could really see it being broken is in the small pubs in the middle of nowhere who get 2 old farmers as customers a night. Yet I still have not heard of that either

Anywhere you go will be fine. Enjoy

slightly_demented

Smoking ban has been passed and is being abided to. I go out every weekend in three different counties as i am on the border, in villages, towns and waterford City and it is being enforced everywhere. Us smokers just go outside now without even thinking about it really. Although in one of my locals you do see people light up once the doors are locked (lock in). Usually it's just the owner of the bar there and a few regulars. But apart from this i have yet to see anyone blatantly light up in the bar.

pooka

Thanks to lhazlette for starting this post, and to all who replied, as I was wondering about current smoking ban info as well. My husband & I are traveling to Ireland in 3 weeks, and we're both smokers. The irony is that I personally hate the smell of smoke on my clothes & hair, or on other people. I guess I'm just a non-smoker in denial. I am looking forward to a smoke-free pub experience. If I want to smoke, I'll go join the others outside (and throw away the butt when I'm done!). Best of Fun on your trip, lhazlette.

capo

<i>The smoking ban in all public places (as well as pubs) is firmly enforced in Ireland.</i>

Bravo to the government of Ireland for being willing to pass such a law protect the health of employees and to firmly enforce the law!

As for the UK...

<b>Call to outlaw smoking in public places</b>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...ixnewstop.html

And for the EU...

<b>European plan to outlaw smoking in bars</b>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...9/ixworld.html