I'm back after a long time away....but I have an eight month old that is keeping me busy! I have been talking to many of the seniors that are involved with my community center. A few different groups have been to Ireland in the last 6 months and they were all suprised when I asked them about the smoking ban. They didn't even know and said all the pubs had smoking.....has it not been going well? Is everyone just ignoring the ban?
Congrats on your new baby! Boy or girl? No wonder you have been really busy.
People cannot smoke inside the pubs. But many pubs have new outside smoking areas. One place I was in had a deck with roof but the sides were open since it is officially only allowed outdoors. The ban has been going very well and no one has been smoking indoors. The fines are too high. Starting in just a few months there will be no smoking indoors in No. Ireland. I can't wait!
It's a girl....the most pleasant and beautiful baby ever...everyone is so amazed at how happy she is.
(Sorry about all the edits - i was trying to get a picture on....
Anyway, these ladies told me the pubs they were in had smoking. They were all little towns but I couldn't believe that because of all the things I've heard about the fines. Glad all is well....I'm trying to catch up....
I was in many a pub all over Ireland, small towns and large cities, in July of this year. In nary a one was a person allowed to smoke. Some had small ourdoor smoking areas but no smoking was happening inside, other than the instruments during the sessions,.
Michele, so wonderful to hear that NO. Ireland is following suit!
My wife and I were in Westport the very minute the ban went into affect. We thought that the transition was really quite smooth. It was a real blessing, as we would have nevered been able to tolerate the pubs if they were smokey. I remember spending hours in Matt Molloys the day after the ban, it was pure magic !
We did find a couple of the smaller pubs "uncomfortable" to be in after the ban, and it was not because of the left over smoke. It was that a few barkeeps allowed smoking in the back of the pub. They thought we were one of the many reported Smoking Spies ! These were government employee's checking things out. We were tossed out of "Shoot The Crows" in Sligo because the barkeep thought we were suspicious ! It was not a great pub anyway....................
My daughter's name is Jamie (spelled Jaime) for all the Irish James' in my family.
I'm glad to hear the smoking ban is working, although I can hardly imagine the pubs without it - we can't wait to bring our daughter over there to show her how beautiful it is. I think it's funny that the exceptions to the ban include psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and religious order homes. Those are the people who are "stuck" in a place and can't get out....i guess.....
I know what you mean about the places that still allow smoking. I had a laugh over them too. When you do take Jamie to Ireland she won't have to worry about second hand smoke. Thanks for posting her photo. We all enjoyed hearing your wonderful news and seeing the new addition to your family.