Parent speaks out after Kildare teen hospitalised from vaping
Photo for illustrative purposes only
CONCERNS have been raised in Naas over the alleged sale of vapes to underage teenagers after three young girls became ill, with one requiring hospital treatment.
One Naas parent said his 15-year-old daughter became seriously unwell after trying a vape bought by a friend at a vape store in the town.
He explained that his daughter and two friends, aged 15-16 years old, went into a local vape shop on a recent Saturday evening. The oldest girl entered the shop with a photograph of the vape they wanted shown on a phone.
“She showed the man behind the counter the photo and he gave her the vape. He never asked for ID,” the parent said.
The girls tried the vape outside the shop and later became very ill before vomiting.
“One girl was vomiting on the way home. Another girl became very sick and ended up in hospital for two days. My own daughter was sick from Saturday until Tuesday.
“She was vomiting, couldn’t eat, was in pain and could only manage water, and even that she was bringing back up.”
The parent said one of the girls had facial swelling, while her own daughter was “white in the face” and visibly very unwell.
The family later brought the vape to the HSE after another parent had kept it. The vape reportedly had no packaging and no clear branding, something the parent found particularly concerning.
“That’s what I found strange. There was no box, no label, nothing. The girl had only shown a photograph, and he produced it from behind the counter.”
The parent said the HSE had since taken the vape for laboratory analysis to test for nicotine levels, metals and possible illegal substances such as THC.
The parent said another vape retailer in Naas was shown a photograph of the same product and immediately identified it as something they would never stock.
“He told my partner under no circumstances would they sell that type of vape and that if any staff member sold one, they’d be let go immediately.” He said his main concern is to make other people aware.
“I have no interest in taking anyone to court. I just want people to know what’s going on. It was frightening. My daughter is only 15.
“The only good thing to come from it is I hope she’s learned a harsh lesson and won’t go near them again.”
Local councillor Bill Clear raised the matter last week and has called for stricter enforcement and tougher penalties for vape retailers found selling to minors, describing the vape industry as “like the Wild West”.
Cllr Clear said he was contacted by several concerned parents after posting online about underage vape sales, with many describing fear and frustration over how easily teenagers were allegedly able to purchase vapes.
“Selling to underage children is totally irresponsible and illegal. If people are caught doing this, in my view, they should be closed down immediately.” He said while most vape shops operate responsibly and follow regulations; a small number appear to be targeting young people.
“I’m very concerned by the way some of these shops are dressed up like toy shops or sweet shops, with cartoon characters and bright displays. That is completely inappropriate. It should be like cigarettes; behind the counter, strictly controlled and heavily regulated.”
Cllr Clear said the HSE is aware of the concerns and believes the plans to carry out checks using underage volunteers over the coming weeks.
He also confirmed he has written to Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, calling for stronger national regulation.
“We have to talk about this before it’s too late,” he said.
Cllr Clear’s social media posts about the matter generated significant comment and attention.
One Naas vape shop, Kool Mix, issued a public statement denying claims of underage sales and insisting it operates with “zero tolerance” for selling to minors.
The understands that Kool Mix had no involvement in the sale of vapes to the three girls who became ill.
The business said every customer is challenged for valid ID where required and that staff strictly follow all legal age-verification procedures.
“We are fully compliant with the law and confident in our standards,” the statement said.
The shop described the accusations as “completely untrue and irresponsible,” adding that spreading misinformation harms its reputation and disrespects the work involved in running a lawful business.
It also said it is willing to cooperate fully with any official inspections or investigations.
“We know we are operating correctly,” the statement added.
The also contacted the HSE press office about the incident and whether they had received reports of illness linked to vapes in the Naas area.
A HSE spokesperson commented: “The HSE has not received any specific reports of illness linked to the use of vape products in the Naas area in the past month. It is important to note that Naas General Hospital does not record or categorise presentations as being vape-related illnesses. As such, it is not possible to provide verified figures on cases specifically attributed to vaping at a local level.
“Public health guidance on vaping is available through the HSE.ie, including information on the potential risks associated with e-cigarette use and supports for those seeking to quit nicotine products.
"Ongoing campaigns feature Radio content, digital audio, display, social media, content creator messaging and expert videos. The HSE launched a new youth vaping and nicotine prevention campaign in March 2026.”
