35% rise in Dublin's fame as destination for UK's hen and stag parties

DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin has experienced a notable rise in popularity as a destination for UK stag and hen parties, seeing a 35 percent increase from 2019 to 2024, according to data from UK event specialists StagWeb.co.uk and GoHen.com.

Cork has also seen a surge, with a 22 percent increase in visitors over the same period.

The companies predict an even greater influx of UK party groups to Ireland in 2025, driven by Prague's recent decision to restrict organized pub crawls from 10 pm to 6 am to reduce nighttime noise. Previously a top choice for stag and hen parties, Prague's new regulations are expected to shift demand to other locations.

Jon Stainer, creative director at StagWeb and GoHen, explained that this trend began post-pandemic, with partygoers increasingly choosing destinations in Spain and Ireland over Eastern Europe. "Initially, the war in Ukraine made travelers hesitant about Eastern Europe, but we expected a recovery by 2025. Now, however, with Prague's pub crawl restrictions, we anticipate a further rise in bookings for Ireland and Spain next year," said Stainer.

"Whether it's Dublin, Cork, Galway, or another city, Ireland is known for its lively nightlife and welcoming atmosphere, making it well-suited to capture this growing market."

In 2019, Prague topped the list of most popular stag and hen destinations, with Dublin ranked sixth. By 2024, however, Dublin had moved up to third place, just behind Benidorm and Albufeira.

Here are the top destinations in 2019 vs. 2024:

2019

1. Prague
2. Hamburg
3. Benidorm
4. Lisbon
5. Berlin
6. Dublin
7. Budapest
8. Amsterdam
9. Barcelona
10. Krakow

2024

1. Benidorm
2. Albufeira
3. Dublin
4. Lisbon
5. Barcelona
6. Berlin
7. Prague
8. Amsterdam
9. Krakow
10. Budapest

Ireland's robust nightlife and appeal for group celebrations have positioned it as a top choice for UK party planners. The anticipated growth in 2025 will benefit local economies.