Max HeyraudWe continue our bi-weekly spotlight on Irish collectives that are keeping the torch of club culture alive across their cities and scenes.
Across Ireland, these parties are shaping what Irish nightlife looks like in 2025, creating spaces for real connection at a time when venues are closing and club culture feels more fragile than ever.
The Vault Limerick
In a city where nightlife has seen venues close and important parties disappear, The Vault at The Record Room has become an institution, a monthly all-vinyl party run by Niall Colgan that remains unwavering in style and substance. Welcoming high-profile guests from Cailín under her GRL alias to Pat Hyland, Tr-One, and Shane Johnson of Fish Go Deep, the party blends the energy of the city’s club scene with a commitment to quality that outlasts trends. While other events come and go, The Vault continues to be a steadfast beacon for Limerick’s music community, proving that consistency, curation, and a love of purism never go out of style.
Nowhere
Galway’s newest techno party, Nowhere, may still be in its infancy, but it’s rapidly earning a reputation as one of the west of Ireland’s most exciting forces for raw, loop-driven techno. Their debut event saw Belfast techno marksman Oisinok take the headline slot, followed by a night with Dublin’s CULT, and their next party features Tresor-affiliated Italian techno boss DJ Plant Texture. With a clear intent to present techno in its stripped-back, uncompromising, loop-driven form, Nowhere is off to a flying start, carving out a bold and distinctive presence on Ireland’s electronic music map.
Call & Response
The lovechild of two of Belfast’s most eclectic selectors, More Gain & Matheson, Call & Response is fast earning a reputation as a party for the heads. It’s a celebration of hidden gems, curveballs, B-sides, and forgotten weapons. From slick ’00s tribal techno to bass-heavy tracks reminiscent of Hessle Audio, the musical palette of this party is wide and adventurous. The vibe is like a real-time, dancefloor-oriented radio show: the DJs bring fresh sounds from across eras, serving them up to an open-minded crowd. At its core, it’s a party for music discovery—self-indulgent in all the best ways. And when the selectors are of this calibre, you wouldn’t want it any other way.
Fuaim
Dublin may not be short of parties, but many push the same sounds and narratives, making things feel repetitive at times. Fuaim, however, stand out as one of the city’s most unique collectives. Their musical approach is an ode to the ’90s, filtered through a contemporary lens, with deep, sludgy progressive sounds spanning house to trance. Over time, they’ve welcomed no-frills, serious selectors like Jennifer Loveless, Adam Pits, Anthony Naples, and more, building a devoted crowd that trusts their curation — as they should. Party by DJs but for dancers, Fuaim’s steadfast vision is matched by a love of the dancefloor, and above all, it’s a party at heart, a quality that shines through.
DisTort Series
Cork’s DisTort Series is a techno collective rooted in the squat and free party scene, and they live true to that ethos. Their rough, raw aesthetic mirrors their approach to techno—not just through sound, but through a broader DIY philosophy. The party is soundtracked by hard-hitting, uncompromising techno—you need to feel it, to have it hit you in the face, a kind of intensity that’s increasingly rare in today’s techno scene. Their bookings champion Irish techno, featuring artists ranging from John Jussey and Jamie Behan to Jon10 and Doiléir.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Patrick Watts
