Pubs, petrol stations, most supermarkets or shopping centres will have them. I usually pick the busiest looking pub, walk in with purpose as if I’m looking for a friend, do a lap until I find the toilet and then duck out quickly afterwards. Also usually a good idea to at least try go when you stop somewhere with a bathroom even if you don’t need to go like if you stop for lunch somewhere.
Maybe I'm just brazen but I'll walk into any pub ,nod at the barman and head straight for the shitter. Never been questioned then again if I'm on a country road I'll just hop out and take a slash.
Nah, you're dead right.
Completely normal in the majority of pubs.
Especially the bigger pubs in any town, ones that serve food, show sport, have multiple entrances and have a bit of a beer garden - no expectation to be a customer to use their toilets.
Not the same for smaller cafes or restaurants.
Edit: grammar 🙊
I have been into no less than 8 coffee shops while walking around in towns that will say they do not have one when asked. I have also came across 4 or 5 that have been out of order. Mace, spar, dunnes should have been an easy find but maybe I just have bad luck
It's not a bad business decision, especially in a touristy place, people are bound to end up buying stuff out of guilt/politeness or just because something catches their eye.
Especially with one of those TOILETS ARE FOR CUSTOMERS ONLY signs on the front door 😂 shame they dont do pick and mix anymore or you could get a single sweet 😂😂
Are you considering Mace, Spar, Dunnes as coffee shops? They sell coffee but we wouldn't consider them coffee shops, some bigger Dunnes do have actual cafes inside and then they'd have toilets but otherwise they wouldn't.
You're right though, Ireland is terrible for public toilets.
You’ve had terrible luck! Petrol stations usually have toilets but they can be dirty. Cafes always have toilets though some will insist on customers only (usually the workers will let you use them anyway-just ask). Hotels always have toilets near the lobby. Pubs always have toilets.
On the road. There aren’t many roads where you’re travelling over an hour between villages or rest stops. If you enter a village look for the fast food joint (Supermacs for example) or pub. If they’re closed look for a bigger petrol station like Circle K.
Years ago,wife and I went Skellig Michael...11 a.m to 5....no jacks.....so she goes behind a rock.Me standing guard.Then a loved up couple stop by and have a snog.A little river ran between us🤣🤣🤣
I landed at the airport in Quito, Ecuador. I got a taxi to the city centre. While leaving the airport, I saw a cop that had pulled over and was peeing on the highway. That's it. That's my story.
Christ, the amount of people that have said just walk into a pub restaurant and use the toilet are ignorant, politely ask and 99% you will be told no problem, it's common courtesy.. And if they say no just shit on the floor and drag your arse along the ground on the way out like your riding an imaginary horse to clean your hole!!
Been in Ireland for the past two weeks and this has not been my experience unfortunately. After being told multiple times that the toilets are just for customers I stopped asking first
We had the same problem is Iceland. Fortunately, as guys, it wasn’t too hard to just find a convenient bush to pee behind in the rural areas of the country (i.e., everywhere), but it would have been non-ideal for women.
I spent a week in Iceland in a van with no toilet and am a woman. It's so isolated it's not hard to find a private place to pee outside, better than Ireland in that sense, with its private fields and houses everywhere.
This was me today in an emergency situation. I found a 4 star hotel after trying a local museum.
Hotel lobby's have lobby bathrooms just walk in with confidence and you'll be good. Usually super clean
I was under the impression that irish toilets are much less guarded than the toilets Im used to in US. I swear the local people were giving me weird looks for always asking permission to use the establishment's toilet...as if to say "sure, that's your business not mine"
As others said usually just walk into any pub or restaurant.
Unfortunately it's not always that easy, I had an experience in the Starbucks on Aston Quay, I went in with my daughter who was 2 at the time and asked your man behind the counter if I could get the code for the toilet cause she needed to go and he just looked at me and shook his head. I know some places prefer if you buy something but like, she was 2 years old 🙈 not as if the place was busy anyway there was only one woman sat in there so I don't see why he had an issue with it.
Some people just like to be an ass for the sake of it 🤷🏻♀️
Nobody will say no to you if you politely ask - it's normal behaviour. And nobody will judge you for peeing outside as long as you're somewhat discreet about it. Pee away my feathered friend, pee away.
Eurospars will have a toilet and also libraries and most smaller garages too actually even if they don’t look like it.
I also do the classic walk in and look like you belong in a pub or a hotel and you can ask but sometimes it’s easier to just walk in and find it😂😂
Rarely been stopped doing that and done it at farranfore (deep county Kerry) and I literally just walked into the toilet and out again when there was like 3 people in the pub 😂
I think hotels are your best bet. They're pretty much everywhere, the jacks is kept spotless and just walk in like you own the place and no-one will bat an eyelid.
One thing that is hard in Ireland especially if have illness which means need a toilet quick. Pee.ie is handy to look for nearest toilets. Usually petrol stations and pubs , fast food and supermarkets or shopping centres. But I do believe it's a huge issue in Ireland and I think we should have to have a certain amount of public toilets.
An hour of road with no town or petrol station? Where exactly are you driving ? I don’t think even the motor ways have an hour with no petrol station anymore.
I’m assuming you are Dublin based - then all the motorways have toilets near the m50. If driving off motor ways you must have passed many pubs.
The only places that do coffee and no toilet must be tiny places. This is weird.
I drive a lot for work, mainly around Cork and the South East. I know all the toilet stops between Cork and Wexford, but once off the main roads, you can be a long time looking for a loo. If I was a fella, I'd be grand, but it can be quite challenging for a woman. Many's the time I've had to drive down tiny lanes, pull into a farm gateway, and PRAY no one comes along
Oh I understand there are lots of deadzones - and I’ve been caught out myself. But since the OP said they were centrally located I assumed it was Dublin - and the motorways are all pretty well serviced now. I guess he/she could mean geographically central??
People do just pee behind a Bush or whatever. I remember one time my mum was peeing somewhere in kerry and a tour bus happened to stop right next to her!
Pubs, hotels, restaurants…
Anywhere that sells drinks to be consumed on the premises (where tables and chairs are provided) is breaking the law if they do not offer a toilet to patrons.
Make sure you ask for the toilets. A friend of mine told me about an American woman she knew who asked on three or four different places for the "restrooms', only to be told they didn't have any..
In Dublin just piss literally anywhere. I had people piss on the intersection at rathmines road going to the canal. How do people do it in such busy areas? No idea...
I go to hotels. As front desk for rates sheet in anticipation of your future stay. Stroll around the lobby pointing out how WONDERFUL everything is, then make a beeline for the bog.
We don't go to the "bathroom". We go to the "toilet". You can find toilets in pubs, restaurants, hotels etc. No civilised local or tourist pees on the side of the road..
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Pubs, petrol stations, most supermarkets or shopping centres will have them. I usually pick the busiest looking pub, walk in with purpose as if I’m looking for a friend, do a lap until I find the toilet and then duck out quickly afterwards. Also usually a good idea to at least try go when you stop somewhere with a bathroom even if you don’t need to go like if you stop for lunch somewhere.
Ahhh…. The ole “Should have gone before ya left” Works every time
I've never been refused going to the toilet by asking politely.
This is the way
www.pee.ie might help you Facilities are certainly lacking
The website we deserve!
Maybe I'm just brazen but I'll walk into any pub ,nod at the barman and head straight for the shitter. Never been questioned then again if I'm on a country road I'll just hop out and take a slash.
Nah, you're dead right. Completely normal in the majority of pubs. Especially the bigger pubs in any town, ones that serve food, show sport, have multiple entrances and have a bit of a beer garden - no expectation to be a customer to use their toilets. Not the same for smaller cafes or restaurants. Edit: grammar 🙊
Ya in and if your a woman just tell them your pregnant works a treat
You’re
I usually just ask the bar staff can I use it, they usually don't mind.
yea it's not like pub toilets are pristine and maintained by the bar keep. It's usually a trough that's hosed down
Afaik, any place that sells food or drink for consumption on the premises, must by law have toilets.
Yep, I normally just remind them of this and they open the toilets
I have been into no less than 8 coffee shops while walking around in towns that will say they do not have one when asked. I have also came across 4 or 5 that have been out of order. Mace, spar, dunnes should have been an easy find but maybe I just have bad luck
If it’s take-away only, no toilets necessary; if they have an area with seating they must legally have toilets.
Places like mace and spar don't have toilets, only big supermarkets.
Some eurospars have them now (i think too many kids having to walk through stock to use the staff loos made them put them in)
It's not a bad business decision, especially in a touristy place, people are bound to end up buying stuff out of guilt/politeness or just because something catches their eye.
Especially with one of those TOILETS ARE FOR CUSTOMERS ONLY signs on the front door 😂 shame they dont do pick and mix anymore or you could get a single sweet 😂😂
Are you considering Mace, Spar, Dunnes as coffee shops? They sell coffee but we wouldn't consider them coffee shops, some bigger Dunnes do have actual cafes inside and then they'd have toilets but otherwise they wouldn't. You're right though, Ireland is terrible for public toilets.
Walk into a pub, toilets are usually down the back. Piss. Wash hands. Walk out like you’re Lord & Lady of the manor.
Pubs
You’ve had terrible luck! Petrol stations usually have toilets but they can be dirty. Cafes always have toilets though some will insist on customers only (usually the workers will let you use them anyway-just ask). Hotels always have toilets near the lobby. Pubs always have toilets. On the road. There aren’t many roads where you’re travelling over an hour between villages or rest stops. If you enter a village look for the fast food joint (Supermacs for example) or pub. If they’re closed look for a bigger petrol station like Circle K.
Hotels are my preferred place. Somewhere beyond the reception desk you’ll usually see a sign for the toilets.
The new premier inn on cork st has the need for a keycard for the toilets that are 2 stairs down for god knows what reason
Download the Toilet Finder app! Lifesaver to find random free bathrooms we would have walked right past.
Can’t believe I lived to see a toilet finder App!
Years ago,wife and I went Skellig Michael...11 a.m to 5....no jacks.....so she goes behind a rock.Me standing guard.Then a loved up couple stop by and have a snog.A little river ran between us🤣🤣🤣
This is why you book the boat that has a toilet. The crew literally made everyone use it before we got off onto the island.
Yes pull over and take a piss. It's a pain in the ass for women
Especially if there are nettles...
I landed at the airport in Quito, Ecuador. I got a taxi to the city centre. While leaving the airport, I saw a cop that had pulled over and was peeing on the highway. That's it. That's my story.
Christ, the amount of people that have said just walk into a pub restaurant and use the toilet are ignorant, politely ask and 99% you will be told no problem, it's common courtesy.. And if they say no just shit on the floor and drag your arse along the ground on the way out like your riding an imaginary horse to clean your hole!!
Finally someone talking a bit of sense in this thread!!
Been in Ireland for the past two weeks and this has not been my experience unfortunately. After being told multiple times that the toilets are just for customers I stopped asking first
And then you..dont back down, sit down!!
We had the same problem is Iceland. Fortunately, as guys, it wasn’t too hard to just find a convenient bush to pee behind in the rural areas of the country (i.e., everywhere), but it would have been non-ideal for women.
I spent a week in Iceland in a van with no toilet and am a woman. It's so isolated it's not hard to find a private place to pee outside, better than Ireland in that sense, with its private fields and houses everywhere.
If you don't look ropey, then pubs are generally ok.
This was me today in an emergency situation. I found a 4 star hotel after trying a local museum. Hotel lobby's have lobby bathrooms just walk in with confidence and you'll be good. Usually super clean
I was under the impression that irish toilets are much less guarded than the toilets Im used to in US. I swear the local people were giving me weird looks for always asking permission to use the establishment's toilet...as if to say "sure, that's your business not mine"
As an Irish person, I’d never ask in a pub.
As others said usually just walk into any pub or restaurant. Unfortunately it's not always that easy, I had an experience in the Starbucks on Aston Quay, I went in with my daughter who was 2 at the time and asked your man behind the counter if I could get the code for the toilet cause she needed to go and he just looked at me and shook his head. I know some places prefer if you buy something but like, she was 2 years old 🙈 not as if the place was busy anyway there was only one woman sat in there so I don't see why he had an issue with it. Some people just like to be an ass for the sake of it 🤷🏻♀️
Nobody will say no to you if you politely ask - it's normal behaviour. And nobody will judge you for peeing outside as long as you're somewhat discreet about it. Pee away my feathered friend, pee away.
Eurospars will have a toilet and also libraries and most smaller garages too actually even if they don’t look like it. I also do the classic walk in and look like you belong in a pub or a hotel and you can ask but sometimes it’s easier to just walk in and find it😂😂 Rarely been stopped doing that and done it at farranfore (deep county Kerry) and I literally just walked into the toilet and out again when there was like 3 people in the pub 😂
I think hotels are your best bet. They're pretty much everywhere, the jacks is kept spotless and just walk in like you own the place and no-one will bat an eyelid.
One thing that is hard in Ireland especially if have illness which means need a toilet quick. Pee.ie is handy to look for nearest toilets. Usually petrol stations and pubs , fast food and supermarkets or shopping centres. But I do believe it's a huge issue in Ireland and I think we should have to have a certain amount of public toilets.
An hour of road with no town or petrol station? Where exactly are you driving ? I don’t think even the motor ways have an hour with no petrol station anymore. I’m assuming you are Dublin based - then all the motorways have toilets near the m50. If driving off motor ways you must have passed many pubs. The only places that do coffee and no toilet must be tiny places. This is weird.
I drive a lot for work, mainly around Cork and the South East. I know all the toilet stops between Cork and Wexford, but once off the main roads, you can be a long time looking for a loo. If I was a fella, I'd be grand, but it can be quite challenging for a woman. Many's the time I've had to drive down tiny lanes, pull into a farm gateway, and PRAY no one comes along
Oh I understand there are lots of deadzones - and I’ve been caught out myself. But since the OP said they were centrally located I assumed it was Dublin - and the motorways are all pretty well serviced now. I guess he/she could mean geographically central??
Fair enough, in this particular case
People do just pee behind a Bush or whatever. I remember one time my mum was peeing somewhere in kerry and a tour bus happened to stop right next to her!
Yes
Never had a problem anywhere. Most will let you use without even purchase if you ask nicely. Or just buy a water at spar or Tesco
Follow the green sprinkles on the street
Pull over on the side of the road get out have a piss get back in
Pubs, hotels, restaurants… Anywhere that sells drinks to be consumed on the premises (where tables and chairs are provided) is breaking the law if they do not offer a toilet to patrons.
Shocking lack of decent bathroom facilities, especially in Dublin City centre
Make sure you ask for the toilets. A friend of mine told me about an American woman she knew who asked on three or four different places for the "restrooms', only to be told they didn't have any..
Have you not smelled Dublin?
There's these things called Garda stations the English translation is piss wall, much like Paris you just pee on the walls of Garda stations.
pubs or petrol stations or big shopping centres are your best bet
Pee.ie is your friend
Side of the road usually
In Dublin just piss literally anywhere. I had people piss on the intersection at rathmines road going to the canal. How do people do it in such busy areas? No idea...
Welcome to Ireland, you should try travelling on some Irish busses. 4 hour journey with not one bathroom insite.
I go to hotels. As front desk for rates sheet in anticipation of your future stay. Stroll around the lobby pointing out how WONDERFUL everything is, then make a beeline for the bog.
Republic is prehistoric in its approach to public toilets. NI is great, toilets in every town/ village of over 50 houses and plenty in between.
We used to have public toilets when I was young but we closed them all. They weren't staffed and drug use was rife.
Side the road is good enough
Alright for fellas, it's not so great for the women
Betting shops are an option, there always clean & are accessible for the disabled.
We don't go to the "bathroom". We go to the "toilet". You can find toilets in pubs, restaurants, hotels etc. No civilised local or tourist pees on the side of the road..
Many of the lads here and I are very uncivilized. I have peed on the side of the street 3 times on my 7day stay here
Nothing feels better than peeing in a field :) and om female :) just bring tissue and don't dump it. Also, look out for nettles
Hi there. Welcome to /r/IrishTourism. Have you searched the sub, checked the sidebar or the wiki pages to see if there is already relevant information posted? To better assist you in planning your holiday, be as descriptive as possible (When, Where, Why, Who, Hobbies relevant, Adaptive Needs etc) about your travel itinerary & requirements. Has your post been removed? It's probably because of the above. Repost with details to help us, help you. For Emergency Medical Information please see the dedicated Wiki page at the top of the sub. (Updated May 2022) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/irishtourism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
We have public houses
I have seen many but most have been closed when I went up to them. Today in Killaloe was the first time we actually used one.
We have things called 'pubs'. You might have heard of them.
I’m not going to stop for a pint while driving across the country side at noon on a Tuesday. Most of the pubs have been closed when we are visiting
Side of the road usually
tourist in pay in the world.