Covid Timelines Update
With the Irish government announcement on the 31st of September 2021, planning your Irish hen party (with all the bells and whistles) for after October 22nd 2021 is looking much more possible!
Intro
Coronavirus has impacted so many couples, brides and hen do crews across Ireland and forced the postponement of many weddings in 2020 and even into 2021. We know how stressful and disappointing this whole saga has been for those affected. But that doesn’t mean an Irish hen party isn’t possible in the midst of this pandemic.
We’re working hard to provide flexible policies, clear options and as much good humour and support as we can muster. Ultimately, we still want as many hen do crews to go away in the near future as possible.
To help you make your planning decisions a bit easier, we’ve put together our top tips and considerations when booking an Irish hen party during (and in the aftermath of) the COVID-19 situation.
Current COVID-19 timelines (the ‘new normal’)
Source:Gov.ie guidelines release
6th September
- Live sport and entertainment events:
- 75% capacity outdoors for vaccinated
- 50% capacity outdoors for mixed
- 60% capacity indoors for vaccinated
- Live music set to return to weddings
- Pilot nightclub event to be held later this month
- Coach tours at 50% capacity
- Indoor live music events will resume with seated-only audiences
20th September
- Return of organised indoor group activities. Where groups are unvaccinated or mixed, pods of up to six participants will be permitted.
- Restrictions on outdoor group activities will be removed completely
22nd October
- No more limits on the numbers at indoor and outdoor events and activities, including gatherings in the home or garden
- No capacity limit on the number attending weddings
- Vaccination certs, immunity or testing will no longer be required to get into restaurants or any other activities or events, with the exception of international travel
- Reopening of nightclubs (!!)
1. Virtual hen party or in-person?
A Zoom hen do
Zoom hen parties turned out to be a really important way to celebrate the many brides-to-be who had their weddings and hen do’s postponed by covid.
As we start to come out of serious restrictions, these are becoming less popular with our hen groups.
However, you might still be thinking of hosting an online hen do if you have group members stuck overseas or other reasons why you can’t get together.
If you’re thinking of going down this route, then check out our Virtual Hen Party Planning Guide for ideas and logistics.
Real life, in-person hen party
With restrictions now easing up and plans to remove most measures by October 22nd 2021, planning a traditional hen weekend away in Ireland is more possible now than any time in the last 18 months!
Simply search your fave hen party destination, choose your dates and build your own package.
2. When to travel
With Ireland now opening up and most restrictions being removed by the 22ns October 2021, the sky is pretty much the limit after that!
Once the bride and groom have decided on a new wedding date and you’ve checked the latest government restrictions in Ireland, find a new weekend that suits the whole bride squad for the new hen do.
Whether that’s in late 2021 or a fresh date in 2022, our advice is to book it in now! All of those mid-2020 weddings are now squeezing in with existing weddings in 2021 and an already-crowded 2022. We know from speaking to our customers that wedding (and now hen party) space is filling up quickly.
So, make sure you can secure availability for the hen party accommodation and activities that the bride would love most by booking your Irish hen party or even overseas ‘do’ as soon as you know the lay of the land.
To help give you as much flexibility as possible, you can submit your booking request through our website for free and we’ll check availability for you with no commitment!
Check out our COVID-19 FAQs to find out about our flexible booking policies and to see the best way to book with us.
3. Where to book & transport options
Irish hen party destinations
With the Coronavirus having swept across the globe, many of our hen do groups are looking a little closer to home when choosing a destination for their hen weekend. Luckily, Ireland does not disappoint!
Choosing an Irish hen party destination comes down to who the bride is and the ‘vibe’ of the towns or cities you’re looking at. If she’s a party girl, then maybe Galway or Dublin? If she’s a beach baby, then take your hen do crew down to Dingle!
For somewhere with an abundance of hen party houses, book in Carrick-on-Shannon, for somewhere central to everyone, try Kilkenny, or for stunning scenery, explore our options in Athlone or Carlingford.
Transport options
With COVID-19 now part of your planning criteria, it’s also super important to decide how you’re all going to get there.
Driving
With travel beyond our own counties probably going to allowed soon, driving to your Irish hen party destination will be an option again (phew).
We do recommend checking the government guidelines on social distancing and being in close contact with people you don’t live with before you travel, just to make sure.
Train
Any Irish location connected to a train line should be a good bet for your hen party and it means you don’t have to worry about a sober drive home.
Just make sure you check what kind of social distancing and safety measures will be in place on board before you travel. It also can’t hurt to double and triple check the journey is going ahead on the day’¦
Check Irish Rail for routes, timetables and the latest safe travel advice.
Bus
If your train searches show up a bit expensive, then check out Bus Eireann for routes, timetables and safe travel measures.
5. COVID-friendly Irish hen party activities
Which hen party activities will be available to your group really does depend on the government guidelines and the ability of each supplier to work within them safely.
For a safe hen do activity bet, we’d recommend looking at outdoor activities first ‘ options like:
- Treasure hunt
- CSI Save The Groom
- Mrs Doyle’s Hen Party
- The Cube
- Cycling tours
- Paintball
- Coasteering
- Axe throwing
- Kayaking
- Ziplining
Or, if you’ve decided to hold your hen party at home or in a hen party house, then why not book an activity to come to you? The girls will love:
- a cheeky draw a nude class
- or even a murder mystery dinner.
Check out all of our Irish hen party destinations to see what activities are on offer in each.
6. What to pack
We know covid is slowly being kicked to the curb but we would still recommend packing some hygiene essentials, just to be safe:
- Hand sanitiser
- Moisturiser (to save your hands from sanitiser dry-out)
- Disinfectant wipes
- Face masks
For more essential hen party baggage items, check out our hen do survival kit list.
6. Check the most recent government guidance
We’ve tried to include links to relevant information and guidelines from the government throughout this article to make sure you can check how your plans match up.
No matter where your hen party are travelling to or gathering, please do make sure you do one final check of the most recent information from the Irish government.
Conclusion
COVID sucks. That’s just a fact. But that doesn’t mean all is lost. With the future looking a bit brighter and the road to recovery even clearer, it’s time to dust off your dancing shoes, rally the girls and plan that Irish hen party.
If you’re ready to book now, then choose your favourite hen do destination in Ireland or get in touch with us if you have any questions!
