Not going out on St. Patrick's Day, Stephen's Day and New Year's Eve

The King of Moo · 26-12-2011 08:46PM #1

I've just realise that, bar some unlikely last-minute change of plans, by the end of this year I won't have gone out on St. Patrick's Day, Stephen's Day or New Year's Eve.

And I think that's fine. I'm not really into long, busy nights out, but I do go to the pub now and then and drink when I do.

I prefer going to the cinema and going for a meal when I do go out though.

I know some people who find it strange if they discover I don't intend to go on out on a Saturday night, but I know most people are more understanding than that.
Yet the three nights mentioned in the title seem to me to be the three nights when, in Ireland, many people assume that if you're youngish like I am, then you're going out unless there's some reason that you can't (not so much on St. Stephen's night).
But I hate going out on these nights, largely because every pub and club is uncomfortably full and there's a surfeit of stupid, very drunk people about. And for the two nights over Christmas, the weather is often horrendous.

I don't believe I'm alone in this though, as I seem to hear more people expressing their dissatisfaction with these nights, though some of them I know still go out anyway.

Are these nights no longer "obligatory" nights out, or am I just weird for not going out on any of these nights when I'm somewhat young and have no kids?

cloud493 · 26-12-2011 08:50PM

I have never been out, as in drinking/going out at night, on any of these days, so no. Not weird.

ThePower11 · 26-12-2011 08:50PM

Give me a night in a quiet pub anyday over Stephen's's's's night, where every sort gobshite will be out.

ThePower11 · 26-12-2011 08:50PM

cloud493 wrote: »

I have never been out, as in drinking/going out at night, on any of these days, so no. Not weird.

You are a bit weird. What age are you?

Sofiztikated · 26-12-2011 08:52PM

They're all nights I hate going out.

Everyone is out to "HAVE THE BESTEST NIGHT EVER, OF ALL TIME" when in fact noone is really enjoying themselves.

Paddys Day and New Years Eve, places are packed, you can't get to the bar, there's a cover charge on the door of the pubs. And the 00:25AM "****, it's the New Year, Happy New YEAR YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY" is just annoying.

I'd much rather go out on a random Sunday/Wednesday night, and have a bit of a laugh with friends, play poker with the lads, or go for something to eat.

cloud493 · 26-12-2011 08:52PM

I am 18. And I have never had alcohol in my life.

AnonoBoy · 26-12-2011 08:53PM

It's called getting older.

You're not arsed with all the noise and the hassle. Much better to leave it to another night when it's a bit quieter to meet up with folk and have a chat.

Did anyone buy you nice slippers for Christmas?

Clareman · 26-12-2011 08:53PM

The 3 nights of the year I can't stand going out are those nights, everywhere is packed and you get people home for a few days blowing sh*te about how great they are doing and can't wait to get back to wherever the f**k they are for the rest of the year.

My name is URL · 26-12-2011 08:53PM

I've only ever been out on Stephens' night once. I really don't like going out to pubs/clubs anyway, but on the nights you mention I'd avoid it at all costs. It's fcuking crazy spending so much money only to be crushed and deafened in some smelly kip.

House parties or a having a few relaxed drinks at home ftw

cloud493 · 26-12-2011 08:54PM

I've seen people posting on facebook '15 EURO INTO *insert club name*' So thats just a giant waste of money.

InkSlinger67 · 26-12-2011 08:55PM

Nothing wrong with being a hermit. There's plenty of places I could be tonight or St. Paddy's or New Years tbh.

F*ck it, human interaction is overrated. I'd rather stay here, count my coins and see how much my beard has grown since last week.

Nemanja91 · 26-12-2011 08:55PM

Those are the 3 most over-rated days to go out on in the year.

pragmatic1 · 26-12-2011 08:56PM

I never enjoy the big nights out. Way too many people and always trouble. The best nights are always unplanned ones.

The King of Moo · 26-12-2011 08:57PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

It's called getting older.

You're not arsed with all the noise and the hassle. Much better to leave it to another night when it's a bit quieter to meet up with folk and have a chat.

Did anyone buy you nice slippers for Christmas?

No

.

I actually never really liked these nights when I was younger, but I'd go out on them sometimes (though not every year) just because my friends were doing so.

Now that I'm a little older I'm not self-conscious about what others might think of me not going out on these nights, though I never really responded to peer pressure anyway.

Clareman · 26-12-2011 09:01PM

I was trying to think of past St. Stephen's/New Years that I've had, I think teh best I had were 2/3 New Years in a bar in Ennis call The Brewery (now called Dan O'Connells), they sold tickets well in advace for £20, then €40, then €50 (different years) and it was free drink all night, you could have whatever you wanted, the reason I think the nights were so good was cause we were in early, the place wasn't packed (they only sold a certain amount of tickets) and no-one got too drunk.

Cantona's Collars · 26-12-2011 09:07PM

I'm sick the past few days:(,would've headed for a few earlier but couldn't be arsed heading out at night,too many drunk eejits talking sh1te at you or the ones that started drinking at lunchtime and just want to fight each other or puke.
Nah-prefer a few early pints & home before the Red Bull & Vodka brigade hit the town.

Jeez!! I sound ancient. (Used to be mad for going on the lash at Christmas but priorities have changed now)

The King of Moo · 26-12-2011 09:09PM

Clareman wrote: »

I was trying to think of past St. Stephen's/New Years that I've had, I think teh best I had were 2/3 New Years in a bar in Ennis call The Brewery (now called Dan O'Connells), they sold tickets well in advace for £20, then €40, then €50 (different years) and it was free drink all night, you could have whatever you wanted, the reason I think the nights were so good was cause we were in early, the place wasn't packed (they only sold a certain amount of tickets) and no-one got too drunk.

Most of my best nights out in general would probably be like that as well.

I never really saw why Stephen's Night was such was such a big night out, but I've been thinking from people's comments in other threads that it's mostly for people who travel home, usually a smallish town, from other places where they work.
Being from a city and not having to travel to get home, and with most of my friends travelling to country towns to get home and thus being away from me over Christmas, it never seemed like a logical night out in my case.

3ndahalfof6 · 26-12-2011 09:24PM

I don't boder, with taxi prices going through the roof and crazy entry fees to different establishments,

on top of the many clients who don't drink often or go out often but do on these dates,

drinking like there was no more alcohol left in the world, then two hours later wanting to fight with the world and all their best mates,

and at the end of it all pucking back up the 40-60 euro they just forced down at breakneck speed,

so no I don't partake in the merriment's.

26-12-2011 09:54PM

I never could understand the notion that you had to be out those days or else there was something wrong with you. Seems that if you aren't out getting wasted on those important nights you're some sort of social pariah. I enjoy spending Stephen's Day in with a roaring fire, some good films, bottles of beer and good food.

Shhh · 26-12-2011 09:57PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I never could understand the notion that you had to be out those days or else there was something wrong with you. Seems that if you aren't out getting wasted on those important nights you're some sort of social pariah. I enjoy spending Stephen's Day in with a roaring fire, some good films, bottles of beer and good food.

I'm with you darko, always have been.. The few times I have ever gone out on any of those nights i've had an awful time.. If I have to now I volunteer to be the driver. Tis nice here beside the fire with de doggies and my wine .. Oh yes and my family....

26-12-2011 10:03PM

I think the biggest problem with the nights in question is that every pub is jam packed and the simple process of consuming a pint is akin to something out of the Expendables. You have to fight to get to the bar, scream to be heard and then spend 5 minutes fighting to get back to your friends only to discover that half your pint was spilt in the process. You then spend the rest of the night shouting at friends trying to have a conversation and repeating the epic struggle that is getting a pint.

Truley · 26-12-2011 10:03PM

I've never been out on St Patrick's, Halloween, any Bank Holidays and tonight will be my first ever St Stephen's night out. I don't like the crowds, the trouble they usually cause but mostly I don't like the pressure to have a really spectacular night when really I don't feel any of these holidays are worth celebrating. I've always gone out New Year's but only ever to the pub never a night club. I would find it very depressing staying in on New Years even if I don't really enjoy going out for it either!

Micky Dolenz · 26-12-2011 10:21PM

Moved to the OAP forum.

yeah, really busy nights in bars, suck. I like my comfort and noise levels pretty quiet :P

leggo · 26-12-2011 10:29PM

Yeah, I'm the same. You can add Hallowe'en to that list. People dressing up zany, trying to act 'mad', and everyone just standing around waiting for the fun to begin after building themselves up for weeks...but it never does. And then they end up just fighting with each other. While dressed as Ali G. You can also add Christmas Eve and Arthur's Day.

Don't get me wrong, I look forward to them if there happens something else on that day and we're heading out anyway...then the place is packed and you're on a happy buzz anyway, so it's good craic. But I just don't like the idea of pretending to be particularly excited about what is, essentially, just another day of the week.

That said, I love to DJ on any of the above nights. Venues are packed so you get to build a great atmosphere, yet you're at a safe distance from the madness, and usually pays better than other nights too so you can spend your earnings on actual good nights.

Dionysus · 26-12-2011 10:32PM

InkSlinger67 wrote: »

Nothing wrong with being a hermit.

Having lived in effect as a hermit for years, and come out the right side of it, I think the hermetic lifestyle is seriously underrated. It was incredibly hard at the start, but that made it much more rewarding at the end.

Anybody whose life revolves around commercial/popular/fashionable things, could do with exploring it if they give it a purpose. It can offer a depth which nightclubs/pubs/tv/commercial radio never give to people.

Maybe this is just something that cannot be advised. People have to arrive at the stage where they're utterly destroyed spiritually by the sameness of nightclubs/noisy tv-dominated pubs/vacuous consumerism.

Paparazzo · 26-12-2011 10:37PM

I hate going out those nights too. Sad day when you rather sit in with a turkey sandwich and cup of tea watching Poirot, than go to the pub.
Although, Poirot is a legend.

EDIT: And no, Poirot isn't the name of my cat.

not1but4 · 26-12-2011 10:39PM

Think for the last 4 years I havent gone out on St Patrick's Day or St Stephens day. Always hated the way there must be something WRONG with you in some people point of view.

Was just chatting to one of my friends trying to recall the last NYE's. I have been out every NYE since I was 16 and the last two have just been terrible. The set up sounds great a pub lock in, €50 in and free drink all night the only problem I wouldnt drink more then 4 drinks all night, the pub was a massive hole and I dont get a long with my friends from home as I once did so not a whole lot of craic.

I was contemplating not going out this NYE but was asked to head pretty much the other side of the county (500km away from where I work) with a few lads from college so hopefully this year will be a different affair.

Captain_Generic · 26-12-2011 10:40PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

I hate going out those nights too. Sad day when you rather sit in with a turkey sandwich and cup of tea watching Poirot, than go to the pub.
Although, Poirot is a legend.

EDIT: And no, Poirot isn't the name of my cat.

You didn't need to point that out, it's clearly a dogs name

Al Capwned · 26-12-2011 10:43PM

Wasnt out for Paddys nite...
Not out tonight as my kids are staying with me.

But looking forward to New Years for a few pints......

InkSlinger67 · 26-12-2011 10:59PM

Dionysus wrote: »

Having lived in effect as a hermit for years, and come out the right side of it, I think the hermetic lifestyle is seriously underrated. It was incredibly hard at the start, but that made it much more rewarding at the end.

Anybody whose life revolves around commercial/popular/fashionable things, could do with exploring it if they give it a purpose. It can offer a depth which nightclubs/pubs/tv/commercial radio never give to people.

Maybe this is just something that cannot be advised. People have to arrive at the stage where they're utterly destroyed spiritually by the sameness of nightclubs/noisy tv-dominated pubs/vacuous consumerism.

The majority are not comfortable with their own company in fairness. While saying that I wouldn't recommend a hermetic stint for everyone - some can cope better than others. Time is precious and best served how you see fit.

Paparazzo · 26-12-2011 11:00PM

Captain_Generic wrote: »

You didn't need to point that out, it's clearly a dogs name

It's possible for a dog to be a legend. Not for a cat though. So that's ok

Not going out on St. Patrick's Day, Stephen's Day and New Year's Eve

Comments