Drop in Patrick’s Day drunkenness, says senior garda

Efforts to break the ‘drunken Irish’ stereotype on St Patrick’s Day in Dublin resulted in one of the most enjoyable festivals ever, according to a senior garda.

Chief superintendent Michael O’Sullivan, who is responsible for the Dublin Metropolitan Region South Central, said there had been less drunkenness and antisocial behaviour over this year’s St Patrick’s weekend. “There is a message out there that excessive drinking is unacceptable and that message is getting through,” he said.

The Garda officer, who was speaking at the launch of a new drinkaware.ie campaign to encourage more moderate drinking, said provisional figures showed there had been a decrease in the number of public order and intoxication offences in Dublin south central — the hub of the country’s nighttime economy.