By Bernd Biege. Everything you always wanted to know about sex in Ireland but were afraid to ask? Here's a short guide to what is legal, what should be considered, and where you are entering the really murky territory.
Because let's be honest, sexual activity may be part of a vacation. You have been warned. First things first: When is it legal to engage in sexual activity in Ireland? The laws in both the Republic and Northern Ireland might be a bit confusing. And might be not the same as you are used to at home. Well, truth be told, they are even not the same on both sides of the border:. No, it is not. The law both in the Republic and Northern Ireland addresses this as a gender-neutral theme.
Yes, in Ireland, there are no longer any restrictions on any sexual practices between consenting adults above the age of consent, in this context , as long as they are consenting without any pressure brought to bear on them, and behind closed doors. Yes, sexual activity in public is generally frowned upon and, depending on circumstances, might even see two consenting adults in front of a judge for causing an outrage.
You can buy condoms from dispensers in many toilets though they may be rarer in female toilets, be warned or at any chemist or pharmacy. Even the supermarkets stock them, and it might be taken as a sign how far Ireland has moved with the times that there are different tastes available and that an apparently popular as in "sold in many places" combo-pack includes a vibrating "cock ring", batteries included.
And even if something goes wrong or you liked the risky life , the "morning after pill" is widely available in both the Republic and Northern Ireland from either a doctor's surgery, family planning clinics, or even pharmacists. Yes, there are male and female sex workers in Ireland. No, there are no clearly discernible "red light districts".
