What The State Of Irish Nightlife Means For Youth Culture

@eadaoinfitzmaurice Cannot beat the good vibes ❤️ Of you’re visiting this summer pls do bin your rubbish and return glasses to bars 🥰 #dublin #druryst ♬ original sound – 🆃🅷🅴_🆁🅰🅽🅳🅾🅼_🅳🅾🆂🅴

When’s the last time you had a truly good night out in Ireland? If you struggle to remember, you’re not alone.

There have been significant changes in the Irish nightlife industry that have contributed to many closures but also an influx of inventive alternatives brought in by the young people of today.

Major news has emerged in the Irish nightlife realm this month – The Workmans Club, a bar and music venue marked by its prevalence in the Irish indie music scene is undergoing serious attempted reform amid an array of financial difficulties.

In early May the club underwent an examinership which aims to help the company work through its financial issues. The bar’s management, formerly named Press Up, is in over €4.5 million worth of debt. The examinership will help the company hopefully recover from this along with the other issues it’s facing.

 

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The financial difficulties of Workmans is only the latest case of Ireland’s flailing nightlife industry. Since the year 2000, 80% of Irish nightclubs have closed. This is a startling statistic that clearly indicates the precariousness of the industry.

Ireland’s young people have always been good at innovating, and the case of Dublin’s nightlife is no different. The recent good weather has seen an increase in outdoor drinking in the city centre, the hot spot over the past couple of years being Drury Street, and this doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.

Young people take to the curb to socialise, drink (largely purchasing alcohol from local businesses) and relax both during the day and into the night. It is the latest social phenomenon which mimics the street drinking practices of other European cities. Other areas popular for outdoor drinking in Dublin include South William Street and the Barge at the canal in Ranelagh.

A few weeks ago, there was controversy concerning Drury Street drinking, namely by the small business owners that are situated there. These business owners complained to RTE about the mostly young people that frequent the curb and ‘block’ doorways and entrances.

@itsthelifeofrobyn0 It’s official- hello long sunny evenings ⭐️ #dublin #drurystreet #summerevenings ♬ GOOD TIMES – Jungle

Young people have since retaliated, stating that there is a lack of affordable and good nightlife options in Dublin and that they shouldn’t be restricted or dictated to. Signs reading ‘Please do not sit on the curb’ have been placed on Drury Street curbs but don’t appear to be working. It’s clear that despite backlash and attempted restrictions, Irish young people have reclaimed what it means to have an enjoyable night-out.

A prominent issue in Irish nightlife is that nowhere stays open past 3am, while most other European cities have nightclubs and bars that remain open until 6am. Many people complain about this but the extreme cost of staying open until the early hours of the morning is simply not feasible for most Irish nightclubs. The blame should not be placed on the venues but on an economy that forces them to struggle.

Give Us The Night is a campaign aiming to reform the Irish nightlife industry. According to their website, their primary aims are to “broaden employment opportunities for those operating in the creative arts” and “to ensure that Ireland adopts a more progressive European approach to nightlife, that reflects the broad range of lifestyles and working hours.”

They propose the implementation of an annual night venue license for individual venues and the establishment of a Night Mayor which mimics those in cities such as London, Paris and Berlin. They are currently campaigning for Dublin nightclubs to open until 5am, which they predict will greatly benefit the nightlife economy.

So, what does all this mean for Irelands nightlife industry and the young people trying to enjoy and save it? There are thankfully a number of measures being taken.

 

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Amidst a lack of options compared to other European cities, the highlight of Dublin’s nightlife is undoubtedly the music gig scene… If you know the right places to look. The main venues include Whelan’s, The Grand Social and O’Reagans. There is a great indie, alternative music scene here along with a great emerging underground rap scene.

A personal favourite is Whelan’s Ones to Watch which takes place over two weekends every January. The festival features the upcoming Irish music talent worth keeping an eye on. It is fairly affordable with tickets being about €5 per night with numerous acts performing from bands like Sheep, Innuendo and Blue Slate to rappers like Curtisy.

Additionally, the rise of techno collectives is doing an excellent job in providing a curated space for communities to come together and enjoy electronic music in popular techno venues like Index, Pawn shop and Wigwam.

Overall, Ireland’s nightlife is a realm containing both issues and sense of vibrant community fostered by the prevalence of music gigs and collectives.

There is certainly hope that the young people of Ireland can continue to reclaim the night. Watch this space.

Words by Sarah Hanrahan