Max HeyraudHidden in the heart of TU Dublin, a community of students has quietly become the launchpad for some of the city’s brightest DJ talent.
Since its founding in 2001, the TU Dublin DJ Society has stood as a cornerstone of the city’s club culture, an incubator for emerging DJs and a space where countless artists have taken their first steps behind the decks. The society has been a community-driven hub where students engross themselves in electronic music, often at a formative point in their lives.
The society provides a relaxed, informal environment where novices learn from novices, a crucial real-world learning phase for aspiring DJs. It’s not only about mastering the technical craft of DJing, but also about sharing ideas, discovering new labels, exchanging club recommendations, finding music resources, and offering peer-to-peer guidance. In a large and sometimes intimidating university like TU Dublin, the DJ Society breaks down barriers and fosters real connections, creating a space where friendships, collaborations, and lasting communities take root and thrive.
Founded by none other than Will Kinsella (Hybrasil), the DJ Society has consistently nurtured new talent while contributing to Dublin’s evolving electronic landscape. Over the years, it has hosted numerous masterclasses, workshops, events, and DJ competitions, welcoming international names such as DJ Assault and Trudge, alongside local artists like Prozak, DART, and Aero. The society has also collaborated with figures like Doug Cooney (Real Sound / RLSD) and has been home to crews including The Loopmasters and Prince Prada.
Each year brings a new wave of students, energy, and ideas. There’s a sense of lineage, a ghostly presence of those who came before, who once learned, practised, and left as confident, seasoned DJs. The current generation continues that tradition, ready to take the bull by the horns and redefine the sound of the next era.
Recent lessons with Emmie have provided a valuable opportunity for FLINTA DJs to develop their skills, a fresh, hands-on initiative aimed at encouraging more FLINTA artists to get involved in DJing. The current generation of members, including Chairperson Rian, Vice Chair Marc Doyle, and contributors like Viki Dos Santos, Arthur Behan, Mia Daly, and others, is shaping what the future of the DJ Society looks like today.
The TU Dublin DJ Society remains an integral part of cultivating a healthy and sustainable ecosystem for emerging DJs, a living, breathing example of how community can positively shape the future of Irish club culture.
The TU DJ Society took over the terrace at Jägermeister’s Save The Night event at Wigwam, part of the brand’s campaign to provide both trade and creative communities with access to paid gigs and professional opportunities, fueling the passion and growth of grassroots nightlife.
