MORE THAN 80% OF IRISH CLUBS HAVE PERMANENTLY CLOSED SINCE 2000

MORE THAN 80% OF IRISH CLUBS HAVE PERMANENTLY CLOSED SINCE 2000

Ok, I know it’s New Years’ day and we’re all supposed to be feeling optimistic. I am pragmatic and feel like I need to get this off my chest. Only recently I learned of the facts that I want to share with you. The perceived popularity of the Irish culture/music scene abroad has never been as strong. The scenes of New Year’s Eve in Temple Bar would have you believe things are in fantastic shape.
It is a tale of Irish nightclubs and culture ultimately in trouble.
On an international scale, Irish pubs and clubs in major cities are expanding at an astonishing rate. From small local establishments to sprawling complexes with multiple bars and restaurants, the number of establishments catering to Irish people and their friends is almost overwhelming. On a trip to Thailand in 2003, I even came across an Irish pub in Koh Samui.
When one talks about booze AKA the drink, the Irish have long been considered the world’s leading connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages.
The reputation of Irish people as heavy drinkers dates back to at least the 10th century. When the Viking King Harald Hardrada said, he had to leave Ireland because its inhabitants liked to party too much.
We do like to party & everyone gets it.
The Irish club is a cultural institution in the United States and Britain. In the 19th century, these clubs were meeting places for the Irish immigrant community. They provided support in dealing with hardship. It was a place for members to celebrate their culture, meet potential marriage partners and make business contacts.

The Early Days of the Irish Pub

The term ‘pub’ can be traced back to the 16th century when pubs were meeting places for local farmers. However, these early pubs bore little resemblance to the Irish pubs we know and love today. Back then, pubs were more like bars – they sold alcohol and were also places to play cards and dance. Irish pubs were near always owned by the upper class. They were so associated with the British upper class that they were often referred to as ‘British pubs’. However, this changed with the arrival of Irish immigrants to the U.S. As the number of Irish citizens increased, so did the demand for Irish pubs. Some of the most famous bars in America were Irish – such as McSorley’s and the Lion’s Head.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression and the consequence of having very little money put an end to Irish pubs’ golden era.

The Rise of the Irish Club: A Brief History

70 years ago, nightclubs in the 1950s opened until 3 am. Later than they do today.
Fast forward to the 70s and the political struggles which again affected the industry. Many people that enjoy clubs met their partners there, and it added a wonderful dynamic to our local communities. It is about broader societal connectivity. Despite the challenges faced by the Irish club industry, it continues to be an important part of Irish culture and a place for people to come together and connect.

Rebuilding the Irish Club Culture

Irish club culture has faced challenges, such as violence, racism, and sexism. However, in the early 1990s, the Irish nightclub scene underwent a massive transformation and became more diverse and multicultural. Homegrown artists like Aphex Twin (who was born in Limerick), David Holmes, Fish go Deep, Bumble, Soundcrowd, and others emerged as leaders in the scene. DJs like Liam Dollard, Billy Scurry, Pat Hyland, Johnny Moy, Dave McDonnell, Aidan Kelly, Podge and Christian Boshell also gained prominence in the capital, playing in clubs like U2’s The Kitchen nightclub in Temple Bar while Alan Simms, and Ian McCready. These pioneers helped shape Irish club culture in its formative years. Ethnicity and class system beliefs were almost eradicated in a generation of clubbers. 

How to Create a Successful Irish Pub or Club Today

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to recreate the Irish club of the 1990s. Our problems are much more systemic as a society. Times have changed, and Irish club culture has gone somewhere else entirely, perhaps underground again with artists like Bicep, Matador, Mano Le Tough, Phraktal and Sunil Sharpe.

The Future of Pubs and Clubs in Ireland

According to The Irish Times, there are currently around 5,000 Irish pubs and clubs in the country. However, it’s important to note that the Irish club has dwindled to 85. Irish pubs and clubs are becoming more popular globally. To stop the rot at home in Ireland, we need our politicians to fulfil their mandate and revise licensing laws today. 

Conclusion

Irish club culture has faced challenges, such as violence, racism, and sexism. However, in the early 1990s, the Irish nightclub scene underwent a massive transformation and became more diverse and multicultural. Homegrown artists like Aphex Twin (who was born in Limerick), David Holmes, Fish go Deep, Bumble, Soundcrowd, and others emerged as leaders in the scene. DJs like Liam Dollard, Billy Scurry, Pat Hyland, Johnny Moy, Aidan Kelly, Brian Chamberlain, Dave McDonnell, Casper and Christian Boshell also gained prominence in the capital. These pioneers helped shape Irish club culture since the early 90s. There are countless DJs that could be mentioned as well as a multitude of club owners, radio jocks and clubbers that made it what it was, Dublin, Ireland was one of the best cities to visit at the weekend in the midst of the Celtic tiger, U2’s global popularity gave us Irish hope, that we could imagine a better life. Their Kitchen nightclub in Temple bar was stylistically like stepping into another world when it opened on Valentine’s day in 1994. There was optimism in society, I felt it. As did many clubbers, who were out for the best time of their lives.

How to Create a Successful Irish Pub or Club Today

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to recreate the Irish club of the 1990s. Our problems are much more systemic as a society. Times have changed, and Irish club culture has gone somewhere else entirely, perhaps underground again.

The Future of Pubs and Clubs in Ireland

According to The Irish Times, there are currently around 5,000 Irish pubs and clubs in the country. However, it’s important to note that the Irish club has dwindled to 85. Irish pubs and clubs are becoming more popular globally. To stop the rot at home in Ireland, we need our politicians to fulfil their mandate and revise licensing laws today. 

The Irish nighttime economy, from the 70s until the late 90s was one of the most vibrant and diverse scenes around the world. A real melting pot of music, people, ideas and fusing of culture

However, this is not the case today. 

Since its height in 2000, there have been 522 nightclubs in Ireland. Today, there are 85 left. 

This deprives and denies us culturally as a nation. Our artists, producers, and art workers should be growing, but DJs, bouncers, entrepreneurs, and hospitality workers have significantly dwindled to an alarming point, that is now in an apocalyptic position.

Globally the Irish pub/club scene has come a long way in the last 50 years. The challenge now is to make decisions that ensure it thrives in the years to come.

We support the Give us the night campaign stance and need major reform in our licencing laws.

Our modern licencing laws are archaic & because of it, Irish culture is suffering.

We welcome seeing initiatives from the government like the UBI (Universal basic income) for arts. The number of people supported by schemes such as this needs to increase dramatically. There were over 10,000 applicants. Which was reduced to 2,000 eligible, and these were then allocated a lottery. The Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme will run over three years (2022 – 2025), and yes it is fantastic to see this type of unique initiative support the arts industry and creative practice by giving a payment of €325 a week to artists and creative arts workers. 

One of the main objectives of the scheme is to address the financial instability faced by many working in the arts. Minister Martin secured a commitment from Government for a Basic Income Pilot Scheme for artists.

The Minister allocated €25 million as part of Budget 2022 to provide for the launch of the pilot scheme.

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/09cf6-basic-income-for-the-arts-pilot-scheme/

Spokespersons of government agree laws need changing. We need a lot quicker turnaround of decisions by government officials with legislation. Our cultural identity depends on it.

The new nighttime Economy Support Scheme (NTESS) is another scheme which provides funding, €2.6 million to pubs, nightclubs, cafés and other suitable licensed/unlicensed premises. To support the provision of entertainment during off-peak times. 

The main drivers of the nighttime economy are the artists, light designers, DJs, graphic designers, sound engineers, organisers, venues and hospitality workers.

A vibrant nightlife sector is needed, infrastructure that caters for the long-term future of the Irish industry.

The Irish arts scene in the 1990s was known for its diversity and multiculturalism, with many artists from multiple disciplines, Limerick-born Aphex Twin and Belfast’s finest David Holmes leading the way on an international stage. Irish nightclubs have declined massively since 2000, with only 85 remaining today. This decline had multiple effects on Irish culture and the economy, it led to a decrease in the number of professional artists, DJs, producers, and hospitality workers. 

I’ve admiration for initiatives such as; the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme and the Nighttime Economy Support Scheme, which provide much-needed funding and support to artists and licenced premises. However, is that really enough? 

Cause and effect in our society need to be mapped out thoroughly, and I have agreed to be part of a study with the basic income for the arts council to map out for 3 years what it is like without the basic income. Every six months, I must fill in a questionnaire and share my experiences, and challenges, which I filled out for the first time last month.

There is still a need for transformative reform in licensing laws, and quicker decision-making by government officials to ensure the future success of the Irish Arts industry now and into the future. We should be expanding on these concepts. 

I am one of the people that applied but was not selected by lottery for the basic income arts pilot. I have worked in multiple disciplines in the Irish arts. I am an award-winning promoter, motion graphic/web designer, VJ/DJ, Producer, Writer, Director, Journalist and Live Musician. Since COVID, my business in the night-time economy has not recovered. We created visuals for nightclubs in Cork, Belfast, Dublin, and Galway for some of the biggest shows, and none of our contacts has reopened in the same business. This means a whole generation of creatives must give up on their art form professionally to survive. Doing different jobs that a robot could now do. 

A society that fosters and develops talent is culturally richer, more diverse and more colourful. National Pride seems to be gaining momentum with the ‘Culture Recovery Taskforce’ setup & really should be any government’s number one goal. Eradicating homelessness objective A, and giving people hope, as I think is supposed to be part of their job description. 

The decline of the Irish nightclub industry has had a monumental impact on me personally & on the arts industry in Ireland. Initiatives such as the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme and the Nighttime Economy Support Schemes are vital transitions in supporting the arts, and addressing the financial instability artists and creative workers face. However, it seems that more transformative reform is needed to fully address the challenges facing the arts industry, and ensure its long-term success. This needs to involve changes to licensing laws and quicker decision-making by bureaucracy. A deeper examination of the broader societal issues that have contributed to the decline of creative industries. It is imperative to consider how the arts can contribute to the richness and diversity of Irish society and to find ways to support and nurture this vital aspect of the country’s cultural identity.

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Words by Phraktal

Photography by Steven Hylands

 

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