Massage parlours springing up across Cork city

Massage parlours offering topless treatments but no additional sexual services are springing up across Cork.

Visitors to the parlours, in city centre locations, are being offered a choice of masseuses who will carry out the “naturist” service.

When one of the parlours on the southside of the city was contacted, the Irish receptionist said: “We do an oil or a naturist massage. The naturist gives you the option of having a towel across you or you can be nude and your masseuse will be wearing a thong for the duration of the massage. That is €50 for the hour or €35 for the half hour.”

It is believed this parlour operated in Barrack St, before moving closer to the city centre. Adverts on websites referred to the service as “libidinous” and “lecherous”. However, the ads also insist the service is “non- sexual”, adding “please do not ask over the phone”. They also say the masseuses are “ITEC-qualified” with five years’ experience.

At another centre on South Terrace, the receptionist explained the BTB reference in the adverts for its service.

She said “body to body” meant “the masseuse is in a thong and she massages you with her own body”.

“It is more sensual and erotic,” she said. “That is €70 for the half hour. It is very physical for the masseuse but the feedback is that it is very good.”

There has been controversy about massage parlours, mainly employing Asian women, were being used as a front for sexual services.

An investigation by the Irish Examiner last year found numerous parlours were willing to confirm when face-to-face to punters that “hand relief” was an option at the end of the massage.

However, through messageboard postings, visitors to the new “naturist” parlours, hoping for the same “extras”, say they are leaving frustrated because the masseuses who are European, often Irish, politely decline such requests.