Patrons and staff of Dublin's pubs, restaurants and bookmakers' were today getting used to the new smoke-free environment - and most seemed unperturbed by the ban.
In Mulligan's of Poolbeg Street, one of the capital's most famous pubs, the familiar clouds of smoke had cleared, revealing a lone barman - and a scattering of tourists settling in for a quiet afternoon pint.
Business was quiet, with the normal trickle of Monday-lunchtime clientele. Barman Mr Mick Murray said the pub hadn't been open when the ban took effect at midnight and there had been no problem with customers attempting to light up today.
Asked if he believed Mulligan's customers would abide by the new anti-smoking law, he told ireland.com: "They will, because they have to. It's the law."
A few disgruntled regulars who are "staunch smokers" had made a point of "boycotting" the pub because of the ban, he admitted. But this reflected their personal vote against the ban generally rather than a cold-shouldering of their favourite hostelry, Mr Murray reckoned.
He said he thought they wouldn't last out long without their pint. "They'll last about a week," he joked. "People enjoy their pint more than anything."
Mulligan's, which is located immediately opposite the Department of Health's headquarters, has been known to attract the business of some staff from that office, Mr Murray admitted. "We used to get a lot coming over to have a smoke." But not, apparently, anymore.
Sitting in what are now relatively unfamiliar fag-free surroundings (who would ever have noticed 'Mr Mulligan' had painted his walls that nice shade of terracotta?) were four tourists straight in from Bristol.
Ms Carole Hawkes, husband Mr Jeff Hawkes, Ms Christine Curry and husband Mr John Curry had just finished their second drink. Carole, the only smoker of the four, was astonished to learn of the ban just before she flew into Dublin this morning.
"I've just been outside for a cigarette," she admitted. She believes pubs and restaurants should have a smoking area of sorts, as is the case in Britain. However, the ban wouldn't deter her from returning to Ireland for a visit. "As long as the weather is good enough to go outside for a smoke," she said.
Mr Pat Cassidy from Motherwell in Scotland was on his own, enjoying a pint of Guinness and a read of his paper. He was the last of a group of 23 people who flew over for the weekend's rugby match and for "the craic". The rest of the group returned home this morning. "I'm retired, so I can stay on a bit longer," he said.
Although staying in Howth, in north Dublin, he said he came into the city especially to check out the atmosphere after the introduction of the ban. Mulligans, not previously known for its smoke-free atmosphere, was an obvious choice, he thought. "It's all fairly peaceful and it's very quiet and clean," Mr Cassidy said.
A former smoker, he gave up 15 years ago and didn't mind the ban at all. "I like it this way," he said.
In Stanley Racing, a betting shop on nearby Burgh Quay, one staff member, a non-smoker, was delighted at the ban and said it often affected her eyes. The woman, who did not want to be named, said two customers lit up in the shop this morning, but immediately extinguished their cigarettes when asked to do so. "They just said they forgot," she said.
A couple of the (all-male) customers were looking unhappy, however. Mr Barry Sullivan from Wexford, who is a smoker, said he objected to the ban. "I object to them taking away our civil liberties," he said.
Mr Oisin Davis, who runs The Sugar Club in Dublin, said all of its customers had been "looking forward" to the ban for their own reasons. The club has, however, installed an outdoor smoking area at the back of the venue.
"My only concern would be the security issue with people going in and outside all night. This will cause problems with the drunken public. Our doormen may have to stamp customer's hands if necessary in order to make sure that they have actually have paid in.
"That precaution and of course the removing of bottles and glasses from them as they go outside will no
doubt lead to arguments. However I feel that those annoyances are a small price to pay for all the positive aspects of the new law."
Mr Davis said he and his customers were looking forward to "healthier (and hopefully more fruitful) socialising".