Riding when contraception was hard to come by in Ireland.

Sunny Disposition · 11-05-2022 8:15pm #1

Its only around 1990 or so that restrictions on contraceptives were dropped, especially for unmarried people. What did people do in the 80s?

sprucemoose · 11-05-2022 8:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058245463/riding-when-contraception-was-hard-to-come-by-in-ireland

had lots of children

Pa ElGrande · 11-05-2022 8:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058245463/riding-when-contraception-was-hard-to-come-by-in-ireland

Depended on the part of the country you lived.

[Deleted User] · 11-05-2022 8:25pm

Up the bum no harm done?

Deja Boo · 11-05-2022 8:25pm

...had morals?

Annasopra · 11-05-2022 8:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058245463/riding-when-contraception-was-hard-to-come-by-in-ireland

They went to Virgin megastore

RTÉ Archives | Society | Illegal Sale Of Condoms (rte.ie)

They went to Belfast

RTÉ Archives | Society | Contraceptive Train (rte.ie)

Longford Leader · 11-05-2022 8:52pm

I was a kid back then......so all I got to ride was my bike!!

Esel · 11-05-2022 8:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048141#Comment_119048141

"We had a quiet wedding - her father had a silencer on the shotgun. "

Snickers Man · 11-05-2022 9:00pm

Well if you were a student there was always the German option.

In the 80s Germany was a thriving economy with a massive labour shortage and this was in the days before every assembly line was automated with computers and robots. So loads of summer work available.

Also, the Germans were very into sales automation even back then so there were loads of vending machines selling chocolate, coffee, peanuts.....and johnnies.

Also, for the younger generation, this was long before the euro so we used Irish punts and the Germans used DeutscheMarks. Amazingly, if very stupidly, the 1DM coin was exactly the same size and weight of the old Irish 5p piece. But the DM was worth between 30 and 34p depending on market fluctuations at the time. So every June, Irish banks had to be sure to stock up on a few gazillion 5ps as they just knew grubby students would be coming in to get a fiver or tenners worth of such coins in advance of heading off to Germany for the summer. So they could phone home to their mammies, like. (Pre mobile phone days)

Worked a treat. A year's supply of Johnnies (about a packet in my case) for a few p. Just had to make sure you used them by the sell-by date.

EE we had it tough when I were a lad!!

silliussoddius · 11-05-2022 9:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048165#Comment_119048165

Aka a weekend to England.

goldenmick · 11-05-2022 9:08pm

Sure the women always had an answer. There were even books about it.

screamer · 11-05-2022 9:10pm

In days of old, when men were bold…..

something something socks.

but in reality it was either a baby factory or move out into seperate bedrooms.

toyotatommy · 11-05-2022 9:12pm

Coitus interruptus

sam t smith · 11-05-2022 9:13pm

An empty Tayto Salt and Vinegar crisp bag as prophylactic?

Annasopra · 11-05-2022 9:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048165#Comment_119048165

Throwing them into slavery?

SuperBowserWorld · 11-05-2022 9:18pm

RTE2 played Madonna's Papa Don't Preach and Like A Virgin to warn the young people of Ireland.

cj maxx · 11-05-2022 9:18pm

Living on the border it was never an issue. Just pop into the local northern pharmacy and ride like hell.

o1s1n · 11-05-2022 9:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048165#Comment_119048165

Morality is overrated.

toyotatommy · 11-05-2022 9:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048484#Comment_119048484

Had the pharmacists brothels?

cj maxx · 11-05-2022 9:26pm

No, but they did sell. Condoms All the local dairy farmers got them for the cows teet if one was infected. Or so they said 🤔

Still stihl waters 3 · 11-05-2022 9:28pm

Finish on the bewbs

Ubbquittious · 11-05-2022 9:33pm

It is possible to to make johnnies out of sheeps intestines. I am not sure how hard it is & does not protect against STD's

Was there any clandestine manufacturing of those? would have been a nice little side hustle for some butcher

SuperBowserWorld · 11-05-2022 9:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048562#Comment_119048562

How romantic

goldenmick · 11-05-2022 9:45pm

@Ubbquittious - It is possible to to make johnnies out of sheeps intestines.

Then you'd have to buy a shoehorn as well.

At least some of us would.

Ubbquittious · 11-05-2022 10:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048592#Comment_119048592

I don't know if they're romantic. See for yourself - https://www.condomjungle.com/naturalamb/ - bit pricy though

looksee · 11-05-2022 10:34pm

Vatican roulette.

Grandeeod · 11-05-2022 11:05pm

Morals did exist back then and had nothing to do with religion. Fair do's to those that followed them. Usually single and aware. This is a topic I can completely relate to as I became sexually active in 1987 and used a condom from a friends parents bedroom drawer. Most likely those condoms were got on prescription as they were married. If we fast forward into the early 90s, lots of girls as in teenagers had access to the pill once their parents consented to it. The pill was widely accessible back then. Of course lots of girls were tricked into the act by lads that didn't give a fook with BS like, "I'll pull out". Yeah right. Most likely a case of no communication from parents that had experienced religious oppression and were comfortable ignoring the reality. Quite simply they weren't told anything about the options that local doctors would happily prescribe. Even the morning after pill was available in Well Women Centres.

I came of age during a time where the availability of contraception crossed over from prescription to condom machines in pub toilets. Now we can buy them in our local petrol station and rightly so. However from my perspective the late 80s to the early 90s, was no excuse either if parental guidance/support was offered. These days couples still have unplanned pregnacies despite the widespread contraceptive options. I guess it may be down to a still existent situation of absolute carelessness and ignorance. No excuse these days but hey it still happens.