Reports of the insatiable appetite for debauchery of Irish teenagers appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Early last night Leaving Certificate students celebrating their results cheerfully undermined the oft-repeated mantra that theirs is a generation hooked on mindless hedonism, writes Edward Power
In pubs and nightclubs, small groups of friends sat in dark corners, quietly nursing drinks. They did not leer or bellow profanities. There were no beery fist-fights or projectile vomiting.
Dublin city centre was eerily quiet, prompting the suspicion that most students couldn't muster the enthusiasm to party with the same uninhibited gusto as generations of forebears.
"There's none of them around, they're all in Ibiza," joked one bouncer as he surveyed a thin, almost apologetic, queue of teenagers. "Either that or they've all decided to stay at home and do their drinking there."
Students confessed their surprise at all the fuss. Many are seasoned nightclub-goers. Hardly any have waited until now to take their first drink.
"It's nice to go out. I'm not sure I'm all that excited about it though," said Jessica Farrell from Drimnagh, Dublin. "I go out most weekends. The Leaving is just another excuse to go to the pub, isn't it?"
Many had delayed their celebrations until the weekend said her friend Carmel Ryan. "Lots of my friends have work tomorrow so they're not going to go completely mental. They're waiting for Saturday night."
Across the capital, nightclubs and bars were braced for a late influx of students. Break for the Border, Spirit and Temple Theatre all threw Leaving Cert parties. None anticipated any disruption.
A warning was earlier issued by gardaí who cautioned teenagers to stay clear of trouble. However a spokeswoman said no misbehaviour was expected.
"Leaving Certs are old hands at the pub and nightclub game. It's not like Junior Cert results night, where many of them many have limited experience of alcohol," she said.
"It has been several years since there were any major incidents on Leaving Certificate results night," the Garda spokeswoman added.