Ibiza and Magaluf are popular resorts for Fermanagh holidaymakers
PARTY HOLIDAYS to Spanish resorts like Ibiza and Magaluf are nothing new for the 18-30 category here – but the last few weeks have seen attention honed in on the drink-fuelled holiday resorts after a video emerged of an 18-year-old girl from the North who performed a sex act on 24 men to win a free cocktail.
The focus in the media has been centred around just what goes on in these resorts – and the resorts themselves have come under criticism for promoting a heavy drinking culture.
Popular resorts for Fermanagh holidaymakers include Ibiza and Magaluf – and while they admitted that there’s no doubt it lives up to it’s heavy partying reputation, two Enniskillen students who have visited Ibiza this year say that in general, it’s just good clean fun.
Meghan Madigan, 20, who studies in Liverpool, travelled to Ibiza earlier in the summer. It was her second ‘party holiday’ – she went to Albufiera in Portugal after finishing school – but said the two were incomparable.
“I was meant to stay for 11 days but left after a week because I literally hadn’t a penny left! It’s so so expensive over there, next time I go I’ll be bringing at least £1,000 a week,” Meghan explained.
“I have always wanted to go to Ibiza at some point as everyone says how amazing it is, I absolutely love the house music scene and the proper super clubs over there like Space are insane.”
Before going, Meghan said that she was expecting ‘a lot of intense partying’ – and she wasn’t left disappointed.
“There was lots of drinking, loads of stag dos and hen dos as well so everyone is always ‘on it’. Drinking is not the only thing that goes on there either, everything happens over there.
“It was amazing, during the days we sunbathed sometimes, other days we went to ocean beach club which is so nice, proper luxurious. I was hoping to spot some celebs but I didn’t. We went on a boat party one day as well which was so much fun.”
As for the controversy surrounding the Magaluf incident, Meghan said:
“I personally didn’t see anything like that no, I’m sure it happens everywhere. I feel so bad for that girl, she was obviously silly but she must have been so taken advantage of, and I think it’s disgusting how much the media have talked about it and publicised it.
“There are definitely better things that should be going in the news. It’s just giving party holidays and young Brits a bad name which is not an accurate portrayal overall.”
Paul Wilson, 21, from Enniskillen also studies in Liverpool and was in Ibiza for two weeks this summer.
He’s previously went to Ayia Napa in Cyprus several years ago – and cited his main interest in travelling to the resort as down to his interest in DJing.
The student took his love of Ibiza-style music when he DJed at an ‘In-Haus’ music night in Level 7 in Blake’s of the Hollow, Enniskillen, on Saturday night past.
“I am really into DJing and I wanted to go out and see some of the biggest DJs, and it didn’t disappoint,” Paul explained.
He said that it ‘would be quite hard to go out there and not drink’, but that wasn’t his main reason for going.
“I obviously seen a lot of drinking as we stayed in San Antonio bay, there’s a lot of bars and clubs in the bay and it’s just a 24/7 party.”
He said that he didn’t see anything like the Magaluf incident during his time in Ibiza.
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