New laws governing playgrounds in Kerry will effectively mean "no adult will be permitted in a playground unless accompanied by a child", according to a senior council official.
Banned activities under the new laws include begging, gambling and using obscene or profane language. Dogs other than guide dogs are also outlawed and it will be an offence for anyone other than a child to use playground equipment.
The bylaws are designed to curb vandalism, stop the "over-aged" using playground equipment and strengthen the hand of gardaí, amid an increase in the number of playgrounds and growing concern they are being used for purposes not intended.
Nine new playgrounds have opened in Kerry recently.
It will also be an offence to write graffiti and to "molest, menace, threaten, annoy, fight or otherwise interfere with any person using a playground". Loud music is banned, as is skateboarding.
The new bylaws voted into law at the December meeting of Kerry County Council in Kenmare have, however, stopped short of banning photography, after an uproar by councillors.
Originally the laws were to outlaw the use of "camera, camera phone, video or any other video media device" without the authorisation of the council. However Toireasa Ferris (Sinn Féin) said this would mean families could not photograph their children. The law was amended to allow families only to take photographs.
Dan Kiely (Fianna Fáil) said playgrounds should be locked at night. It wasn't just the under-aged who were drinking in Kerry's playgrounds, he quipped in response to other councillors' submissions. "I am more concerned about the over-age drinking in playgrounds and adults interfering with the equipment of young children," he said.
The playground in Ballybunnion was highly abused in the early hours, Mr Kiely said. "Thirty-five-year-olds and 50- year-olds are swinging around at 3am in the morning."
Under the bylaws, nobody is allowed into playgrounds after dark unless they are a council employee, director of community services John Breen said.
Those breaching the laws will be fined €75. The bylaws come into effect in January.