The traditional stag of the past has seemingly been replaced by men acting like “they’ve been let out of prison”. 

That’s according to Cork Beo Editor Joe O’Shea as more and more European cities get sick of stag nights. 

In Barcelona, hen and stag nights have been banned from the world-famous Boqueria Market, along with people taking selfies. 

Local authorities in Amsterdam released a video last year asking English tourists not to visit the popular city. 

Mr O’Shea told Newstalk Breakfast Ireland also suffers its fair share of brides and grooms-to-be. 

“I've been in pubs in Dublin and you get that moment when the door opens and there’s 10 English lads wearing matching t-shirts,” he said. 

“It feels like a western when the piano stops and everybody turns around. 

“I've seen stags in Dublin refused or signs that say we will not accept groups of 10 or groups in fancy dress.” 

He said the traditional party of one night in a nearby city is gone – especially among men. 

“The problem is when you get a group of guys – and often it’s the married guys – it's like they’ve been let out of prison,” he said. 

Men in costumes for a stag party. Image: Cum Okolo / Alamy Stock Photo

“It doesn’t matter how old they are, how sensible they are, if you get 10 guys together, especially 10 old friends, they regress to when they were teenagers. 

“But if you're in your 40s you can’t party like you did in your 20s. 

“The best stag you are looking for is a bit calmer when you celebrate friendship instead of wandering through Amsterdam off your head.” 

Host Ciara Kelly said her own hen was a ‘hag’ - a combination of a stag and hen party with men and women meeting up. 

“Nowadays at the hens, the girl wears white, a veil, almost a mini version of a wedding dress.” 

The typical stag or hen party package costs between €140 and €160. 

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