Has St Patrick’s Day been ruined by binge drinking and anti-social behaviour? And what would you like to see done to tackle the problem? Here’s what some Dublin People Facebook followers think.
Annemarie McNally Rice: Even the parade is a scary place to be. It seems that some people go just to see if they can pickpocket or cause fights. And as for the streets after dark, it’s disgusting to see people falling about legless and throwing up or fighting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for having a good time but for so many it goes way beyond that.
Ambrose O’Shea: It’s not only St Patrick’s Day, it’s every day. It’s worse at weekends and it’s not only down to drink.
Joe Duff: Do you have to ask? And I agree with Ambrose.
Amy Bennett: We’ve stopped going to the parade with the kids. We go to Merrion Square, ramble around town, have one or two drinks, dinner and then head home by 6pm before it gets too crazy.
Kathleen Woods: Depression of young males – how sad.
Annmarie Dempsey: It definitely has: Not a family day out anymore.
Lorna Long: It’s awful to see kids totally out of control with heavy drinking. No need to do that. Just enjoy watching the parade, get some good food and go to the pub for two hours.
Brian Rafferty: Just another day for them to get drunk and cause mayhem for others. It’s not the same anymore.
Sharon Byrne: Wouldn’t go near a pub now on St Patrick’s Day.
Cheryl Piggon: Put the legal drinking age back to 21. A good night out isn’t cheap anymore so I can’t understand why they pay good money to end up looking like that.
Sarah Reilly: It’s sad. I don’t want to be called Irish on St Pat’s Day. It’s not the Pat’s Day I once knew.
John Kelly: That lady Annmarie is correct. It’s not a family day out because these idiots use the day to cause trouble. If they are arrested and appear in court, then the judges need to deal with them severely, eg heavy fines or prison. If they are on the dole then stop their money to pay for the damage they cause or the fine they have to pay. We are too soft in this country. It’s the gardai and the law-abiding people who suffer because of these gobshites.
Sabrina Ginesi: Blaming St Patrick’s day for a cultural issue is avoiding the real problem – emotional dependence on alcohol/drugs. I feel Paddy’s Day is just magnifying what’s there already. Same can be said for other festivities!
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