The final pre-election poll shows a tight race, but the future of Irish nightlife hangs in the balance.

Fianna Fáil leads with just under 22%, followed by Fine Gael (21%), and Sinn Féin (20%). With Fianna Fáil leading but silent on nightlife reforms and Fine Gael trailing after delaying the Sale of Alcohol Bill, Sinn Féin’s progressive plans for ‘night venue’ classifications and extended trading hours hold out hope. Tomorrow’s election will be crucial for Ireland’s club scene.

The Irish public is deeply divided, debating pressing issues such as housing, immigration, abortion, the environment, and taxes. These debates have not only highlighted a growing class divide but also pitted communities against each other over resources. This tension appears to have worked somewhat in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s favour, shifting some attention away from their questionable pasts in government over the last century. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s campaign momentum has slowed as these contentious issues dominate the conversation, making it a high-stakes scenario where voter alignment on topics like immigration could prove decisive.

This clash of priorities and the grab-and-go style of campaigning in this election indirectly impacts nightlife and other artistic and cultural issues, which have been left to rot at the back of the fridge—dismissed as unimportant and futile. The sheer lack of genuine engagement with topics that concern young people highlights where the parties’ priorities lie.

With over 600,000 people aged 18 to 29 eligible to vote in tomorrow’s General Election, the question is: who is truly representing them? While affordable housing remains a critical issue, other walls are crumbling around us—namely the erosion of culture across Ireland. The country now has fewer than 90 nightclubs, a number that continues to dwindle. This marks a stark contrast to the past, when Ireland boasted over 1,200 dance halls in the 1950s, reflecting a troubling decline in late-night venues and cultural spaces.

Fianna Fáil, currently leading in the final poll ahead of the election, has made no mention of nightlife in their manifesto. While their platform includes sections like “Empowering the Next Generation” and “Valuing Our Culture and Heritage,” nightlife is conspicuously absent. Even their “Investing in Artists, Output, and Infrastructure” section fails to mention venues, raising alarm bells for the protection of existing cultural spaces—let alone the creation of new ones.

Fine Gael, who trail just behind Fianna Fáil, at least acknowledge nightlife as a cultural construct, though not much more. Their manifesto offers some clarity on their priorities, one of which is “building better communities.” They promise to increase artist workspaces, expand creative spaces across Ireland, and utilise suitable unoccupied spaces for the arts. While these commitments sound promising, their track record of supporting arts and culture during their time in office has been less than satisfactory. They failed to enact the Sale of Alcohol Bill Part 1, a crucial piece of legislation that could transform Ireland’s music and nightlife culture. Their delay in passing this bill has stifled opportunities for progress, making these somewhat vague promises feel like smoke and mirrors. One of their few concrete plans is the introduction of a €300 Culture Card for 16- and 17-year-olds, aimed at making theatre, music, and art events more accessible for young people.

Sinn Féin, completing the trio of headbutting competitors, has acknowledged nightlife the most out of the three. They recognise the continued eradication of creative spaces and propose an additional €20 million in funding for the Arts Council, along with a host of other measures. They plan to increase investment in the arts, with an additional €197.6 million for annual current expenditure and €26.5 million for capital expenditure. Specifically regarding nightlife, Sinn Féin intends to introduce a designated ‘night venue’ classification in licensing and planning law, as well as update and modernize licensing laws and costs, including the consideration of extending trading hours in line with other European countries. While this may seem somewhat vague, it is the most concrete clarification from the three parties.

The future of Ireland’s nightlife and cultural venues is at stake as the country prepares to vote tomorrow. With Fianna Fáil leading but failing to implement nightlife changes, Fine Gael lagging with vague pledges, and Sinn Féin offering the most comprehensive yet still hazy proposals, it’s clear that, among the big three, nightlife and the arts are somewhat of an afterthought. Nevertheless, the election results will have a significant impact on the country’s cultural landscape. Discussions about housing, immigration, and taxation have eclipsed concerns like nightlife, leaving young people and artists without clear representation from the leading parties. The outcome of the election remains uncertain, and their policies on nightlife reflect the broader uncertainty about Ireland’s future.


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