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Original poster

Anyone who was at secondary school in Ireland in the 90s...

35 replies

AppropriateAdult · 09/06/2019 21:55

Were there tampon/pad dispensers in the bathrooms at your school? And if so, were they coin-operated or free?

(I'm writing a piece for which this is relevant and can't for the life of me remember what the situation was at my school. Any info much appreciated.)

OP posts:
7Days · 09/06/2019 22:01

Hmm. I think so. Coin operated. Rusty. Never used them and never saw anyone else use them.

7Days · 09/06/2019 22:02

Just thought as it posted. Yes definitely, because during the period talk we were brought to see them.

Rural school 1993!

LorelaiRoryEmily · 09/06/2019 22:04

Yes there were. As pp said, Coin operated and rusty. I personally never used them and can’t remember seeing anyone else use them either

Corcra · 09/06/2019 22:07

I don’t remember there being one. I definitely never used it if There was. Most teachers carried spares in case anyone needed them.
That was in a big school in a large town.

Baloonphobia · 09/06/2019 22:08

Ha, ha. I really had to think about this. Coin operated, looked out of order and I never, ever saw one being used.

OakElmAsh · 09/06/2019 22:12

Secondary school from 1995-2000... Fairly sure there weren't any at all

Summery1 · 09/06/2019 22:14

I did my Leaving in 85, and they definitely weren't there.

Starsabove1 · 09/06/2019 22:14

Coin operated, never used. And no sanitary bins allowed as they were ‘dirty’ 😱

PhossyJaw · 09/06/2019 22:19

Did LC in 1990 and no tampon dispensers in mine. The nuns weren’t keen on tampons at all.

ourkidmolly · 09/06/2019 22:24

Nothing in 1988 but you could just go and get a pad from the office. No big deal. You'd be allowed to use the teachers' loo beside the office then as well. With a bar of imperial leather soapstone your disposal. No tampax though.

NowYouListenToMeFella · 09/06/2019 23:02

Don't think we had any in our school either. Always brought our own or for some from a friend of stuck. Cork city school

Quintella · 09/06/2019 23:05

None in ours. Southside convent school.

smokyburgandy · 09/06/2019 23:08

School in the 90s, as others said you might have the odd machine in a toilet block, but they looked ancient and were presumably empty.

villainousbroodmare · 09/06/2019 23:10

Coin operated, pads and tampons, worked fine, had to use them a few times. Supplies also available at the staff room but you'd have to hope that the teacher you wanted was there, otherwise you could end up explaining to the metalwork teacher or something! so definitely a distant second choice!

elizabethdraper · 09/06/2019 23:13

Yes and coin operated

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 09/06/2019 23:13

Convent, all girls South Dublin, yes, definitely in the 1990s.

Original poster
AppropriateAdult · 10/06/2019 07:05

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful!

OP posts:
notoafternoontea · 10/06/2019 08:35

Convent, South Dublin, '90s.

I don't think so - as I remember the RE teacher telling us she had spare pads that we could get from her if we needed them.....but I really can't remember!

There were definitely sanitary bins though.

BaruFisher · 10/06/2019 08:36

Nope rural convent school early 90s- had to see the nun at sick bay to get one (who would later track you down and demand 20p in payment)

RuggerHug · 10/06/2019 11:59

Coin operated and shite. Told in primary to bring your own always because teachers weren't allowed hand any out. Which seems off..

Quintella · 10/06/2019 12:00

I can't remember if there were sanitary bins although I assume there must have been.

RuggerHug · 10/06/2019 12:20

Coin operated and shite. Told in primary to bring your own always because teachers weren't allowed hand any out. Which seems off..

loveisanopensore · 10/06/2019 12:21

Coin operated ST vending machine. Tried to get one once, coin got stuck. My maths teacher tried kicking it to get it working. It did not.
My year head found one of those mattress like Dr White ones.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 10/06/2019 12:29

Coin operated. Never knew if there was stock in the unit as it wasn't possible to see behind the metal drawer thing, so didn't know if your money was going to be wasted or not.
Always brought from home. Never used them for the above reason.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 10/06/2019 12:30

I think we had to ask at the office? I'm not 100% certain, to be honest, because I would never have dreamed of asking and if caught out, went with the utterly useless wad of loo roll solution.