Sex, Saints and Videotape

Furry handcuffs, erotic videos and edible panties? St Valentine would turn in his grave. Sharon Commins and Cathy Raftery explore the latest addition to Dublin’s sex industry

SHAUNA’S is the latest addition to Dublin’s booming sex trade. Despite its close location to Whitefriar St Church - the final resting place of the patron saint of love - the strictly over 18s shop has not encountered any objections. On entry, you would be forgiven for thinking you were in a video library.

However, a closer inspection of the covers would prove otherwise. A table in the centre of the shop displays naughty mags of varying degrees of obscenity. An entire wall is given over to sex toys in all shapes and sizes - and various shades of flesh colour.300 copies of a raunchy sex guide are sold in the shop on a weekly basis, at £4 a copy.

This sex directory puts the needy reader in contact with women selling sex and gives an insight into Dublin’s flourishing red-light-district. If you have been diagnosed with a low love count, then ‘love sugar’ may be just what the doctor ordered. Two slightly heaped teaspoonfuls mixed well with saliva claims to increase sexual activity and desire, while also eliminating inhibitions.

If £4.99 for 50 grams seems a little costly however, we suggest you buy a conventional bag of sugar, double the dosage and hope for the best. A pair of furry handcuffs priced £16 will ensure that you and your loved one will always be side by side, or on top of things.

For the acquired tastes, edible undies at £4.99 may be just the thing to tickle your taste buds. And for those who have worked up an appetite, body paints may taste wonderfully appealing at £8.99.

Either way, there’s lots to keep the mind, the stomach, and other body parts occupied in the cold spring nights.