Is it a bit disrespectful to excercise a dog at the grounds of a war memorial ?

Yes it is imo. No one should be playing frisbee at a war memorial or messing around in the water fountains.

But it is so normal now for people to draw a blank when it comes to any sense of the sacred that I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

Exiting this thread now before some mouth-breather asks me for "evidence" that war memorials are meant to be treated with an aura of silent dignity.

Why wouldn’t I ? We are discussing a war ‘memorial’ as opposed to a green though.

Soldiers are made of sterner stuff. I'm pretty sure they would be fine with it.

By that logic we should ban all children from going anywhere near the monument, especially if they're happily running around playing hide and seek.

You'd prefer to see that we all bow our heads in faux solemn grief as we slowly trudge by . . . Nonsense.

The Heritage Ireland website (The OPW's heritage section) has a "Restrictions" tab for each location that they manage.

The page for the National War Memorial Gardens (https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/irish-national-war-memorial-gardens/) mention no restrictions.

Some others, such as The Garden of Remembrance (https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/garden-of-remembrance/) say "Assistance Dogs Only" or "Dogs On Lead" (Grangegorman Military Cemetery: https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/grangegorman-military-cemetery/)

Obviously people can have their own opinions, but the body that manages the Gardens clearly have no issue with dogs being there. That said, the presence of dogs and the behaviour of dogs are two different things. One should always be sure that one's dog behaves in a respectful way anywhere in public.

Google Street View shows an "All Dogs Must Be Kept on Leads" sign

I regularly walk my dog in the war memorials (early) and have for many years. Rarely go to the actual war memorial part at the top...but I do occasionally...I don't see what the issue is?! I pick up after my dog obviously I am not an absolute tosser.

During the summer people regularly drink, play games (even play music...which is a bit annoying to me tbh because the music is awful) etc in that part is that disrespectful too? Are you going to give out to them?

Went with disrespectful. But only barely. I probably wouldnt notice without it being pointed out.

As a rule the public will always eventually end up taking the piss. There will have been a time where having the dog in the fountain was a bit much.

Next it will be a barbeque and some bluetooth speakers, only having some craic like, whats the problem ye spoilsport.

So yeah, if theres to be a line drawn at all then its probably around about now, or just dont bother and redesignate it as a barbeque disco park.

If its a memorial then the whole point is for it to be a place of a certain separate atmosphere. If its to be a barbeque disco park then fair enough, but just put the memorial somewhere else.

Being cynical, people may have more of a problem with someone playing with a dog in the Garden of Remembrance as opposed to the War Memorial Gardens...some conflicts seem to matter more than others.

Anyhow many people with "fur babies" seem to ignore signage telling them to have their "babies" on leads in designated areas. Ah but my "doggo" is very well trained...cue owner shouting themselves hoarse while dog gleefully ignores them.

One of about ten gazillion laws that are routinely broken in Ireland (Hello urban speed limits!!).....

people in glasshouses etc.

In Islandbridge ?