Dublin has a great vibrancy at night with lots to do, but it's normally awash with alcohol and not family-friendly, Ciara Kelly has said.
The Newstalk Breakfast host was speaking as Dublin by Night Fest kicks off in the capital this evening.
Organisers say the aim is to bring the city 'alive after 5' with music, arts and culture, food and shopping through a night market.
It will also mark the city's 10th successive Purple Flag award, which recognises excellent places to go for a night out with "vibrant, night-time economies".
Ciara said the economy may be booming, but it's not somewhere she would bring her family.
"That is not how I see Dublin, and I don't like saying this at all," she said.
"I come from eight generations, on both sides of my family, of Dubs so I kind consider myself True Blue that way.
"I love Dublin, it was the city of my youth, I lived here until I moved out in 2003.
"[I] Absolutely love the city, love the people of the city, love the streetscapes, love all of it.
"I don't at all think that this is a city that is, particularly at night, family-friendly.
"I don't at all think that this is city that at night is not alcohol-dependent.
"I personally wouldn't walk my children down the Liffey's very nice, geographically very nice, boardwalk at night.
"I would walk them in relatively few parts of the city – my family, my kids at nighttime at all."
'Awash with alcohol'
Ciara said she doesn't believe Dublin city is a welcoming place for those who don't drink.
"There may be vibrancy - I know there are theatres, there are gigs, there are great restaurants and bars - I do think most of it is awash with alcohol," she said.
"I don't think it's a particularly welcoming city if you don't drink at night.
"It struck me that this wasn't true, as much as I wished it was true that it wasn't true, and that this is not the place I would bring my kids.
"One of my teenagers wanted to come in to the north inner-city over the Halloween weekend to do something that was going to be on at 7pm and I said no.
"He was only 14 and I thought it was a bad idea," she added.
