Max HeyraudWithout jumping the gun, it does feel like club culture in Ireland is potentially starting to heal.
In cities across the country, a movement seems to be brewing, with the gaps between scenes beginning to close. Young parties are steadily establishing themselves, and this growing trend—moving away from a headliner-driven approach and towards phoneless clubs—is reforming how we consume club culture. It’s a reflection of the broader shift happening across the entire country.
Despite the obvious factors that stifle Ireland’s club culture from progressing—many of which are largely out of the community’s hands, such as late-night licensing laws, the Sale of Alcohol Bill, lack of late-night transportation, and a government that seems indifferent to the value of nightlife—2025 has started on a strong note. Promoters, DJs, and the community as a whole have risen to the challenge, making positive changes even in this often suffocating landscape that we call Irish club culture.
Irish club culture has shifted massively since COVID-19, and we’re not alone in this transformation. It’s part of a global repositioning—affecting how dancers interact with music, how DJs perform, what promoters book, and the overall feel of the scene. Like many other countries, Ireland has been navigating these changes, with some events thriving in the new landscape while others struggling to find their footing. However, it seems that the gap between different scenes may be closing, more people are going out again, and perhaps, just maybe, things are starting to look a little more positive.
That said, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Ireland is still losing clubs and venues—two major losses over the past year being Galway’s Cuba and Dublin’s Here & Now Club. These were significant blows to both cities’ nightlife scenes. Yet, in some ways, both cities continue to thrive. Of course, calling anything “thriving” in today’s club climate requires a pinch of salt—what we now describe as a “healthy” or “booming” scene must be measured by today’s standards. If we constantly compare the present to the past, we’ll only frustrate ourselves endlessly.
In Dublin, real positive changes have taken place in recent months. Index, in particular, has been a shining light in what at times felt like a stagnant and repetitive scene. The club has consistently shaken things up, proving that adaptability is key to survival. Most notably, Index recently announced its move from its long-standing home on Liffey Street to The Academy. The relocation initially raised scepticism, but last weekend’s opening with MK and Sammy Virji proved to be a success—if anything, it looked like an upgrade. Spaces like this are crucial for hosting bigger names, and contrary to popular belief, they often bring business to smaller venues rather than taking away from them.
On the same weekend, the team behind Index also launched Block, a new concept in their previous Liffey Street venue. This new space adopts a more intimate, heads-down approach, ditching VIP passes in favour of an immersive 360-degree setup. Their Instagram bio reads “a club for you,” and with their new no-camera policy, the focus is shifting back to the music and the experience. Last weekend’s debut with Dutch DJ Marsalo demonstrated the effectiveness of this policy—when he played his hit Step By Step, the entire crowd sang along, and not a single phone was in the air. This shift marks a welcome change in club culture, one that will hopefully continue to deepen over time.
Dublin has also seen increased support for local artists in clubs. January and February are typically tough months for nightlife—people are recovering financially from the holidays and focusing on health. However, clubs have found creative ways to combat this lull. Cellar and Four Four Mag launched their 4U Show, where an unnamed local DJ played a five-hour set behind a curtain. Attendees bought tickets purely based on trust in the experience, without the pull of a big-name headliner. Meanwhile, Tengu has hosted a strong lineup of Irish talent, including MAV666, Shannen Blessing, Mathman, Cailín, Kaycee, XXXX In Stereo, and Spray.
Dublin’s Research collective has also taken a bold step by focusing exclusively on local acts and enforcing a strict no-phone policy. While they were once known for booking international DJs, they are now shifting towards curating an atmosphere where sound and lighting create the experience rather than the name on the flyer. Tengu’s sold-out show with Calibre weeks in advance is another sign of a changing landscape—it’s rare for an Irish drum & bass act to sell out so early, making this a major win for both local artists and the genre in the capital.
Despite the closure of Cuba, Galway’s nightlife seems to be bouncing back. Electric has been holding down the fort, and promoters like Gash, ELYSIUM, KLIQ, Deep Sea Dweller, and Basement Project have been keeping the energy alive. Weekend events, which were previously rare due to the city’s strong midweek student nightlife, have become more frequent. This shift has also seen the rise of new DJs, including Kixn, GJ504B, Jimmy Chaps, and Mannio.
A special mention goes to Shampain, a Galway diehard who has remained loyal to his hometown. Through his Freak Mag brand, he has brought dons of the scene DJs like Sunil Sharpe and OK Williams to Róisín Dubh, while also supporting emerging talent such as Charlotte Walsh and Ladrin.
Cork’s club scene is undergoing a major transformation, thanks in part to the reopening of The Pav—formerly known as Dali. This venue has welcomed techno heavyweights like Setoac Mass, Blasha & Allatt, and more. Veteran promoter Jamie Behan has also revived Bastardo Electrico, Ireland’s longest-running techno night, bringing in acts like Ben Sims and The Lady Machine alongside Irish heavyweights Sunil Sharpe, Dylan Fogarty, and Aero.
Meanwhile, Dali has relocated to what was previously Crack Jenny’s, transforming it into a haven for underground music. Local parties like Kriptik, Machina, and Bare Bones are hosting everything from sex-positive events to stripped-back minimal techno nights. With The Pav, Dali, and Cyprus Avenue all running simultaneously, Cork’s nightlife is definitely on the rise.
Waterford has long struggled to maintain a stable clubbing infrastructure, with its two main venues—Factory and Electric Avenue—often in competition. However, recent bookings suggest that the city is beginning to find balance. Electric Avenue has hosted renowned acts like Dave Clarke and Jerome Hill, while Factory continues to dominate the student scene with names like New Era and Fionn Curran. Though the midweek scene is still developing, a growing presence of international and local acts bodes well for the future.
Limerick’s clubbing landscape took a hit with the announcement that D.I.E., an institution in the city’s scene, would cease running events. Adjusting to this change will take time, but younger promoters like Equinox and R.I.O.T. have stepped up, keeping the underground scene alive at Pharmacia. Meanwhile, Dolan’s Warehouse continues to host international bookings, including X CLUB and Faster Horses. While it’s a period of transition, new energy is keeping Limerick’s nightlife afloat.
Belfast’s club scene is experiencing a resurgence as of late with Ulster Sports Club firmly establishing itself as a hub for counterculture. The venue has hosted underground icons like DJ Rolando, Steffi, and Phil Hartnoll (Orbital), becoming a beacon for both young creatives and veteran dancers in the heart of the city.
Beyond Ulster Sports Club, venues like Lavery’s and The Marcus Ward have emerged as essential spaces for the next generation to shape Belfast’s ever-evolving club culture. These venues serve as blank canvases, with collectives like TWISTD transforming Lavery’s through a DIY approach, bringing festival-scale production to a mid-sized venue. Meanwhile, promoters like RITMO are redefining smaller spaces like The Marcus Ward, booking acts like DJ Swisherman and Niall Kelly.
More established parties continue to push the scene forward. Coda—formed by a large contingent of DSNT—keeps the “proper techno” with bookings like Alarico, Freddy K, and Remco Beekwilder. Meanwhile, Twitch, nominated for Best Club Event by DJ Mag, has welcomed Hessle Audio bosses Pearson Sound, Ben UFO, and Pangaea, alongside Irish legends like Sunil Sharpe, Timmy Stewart, and Or:la. Belfast’s club scene is currently blurring the lines between old and new, united by a shared commitment to quality music and a DIY ethos that keeps the culture thriving.
Across the way, Derry has also experienced a boost in its club scene with the emergence of new party Blank, operating under a new space, Klub Bas. The crew is focusing on purist house and techno, with their first season welcoming artists like Clouds, Blasha & Allat, Frazie.r, Riot Code, Or:la, and more. Prior to this, Jika Jika were the primary promoters in Derry and still are, but the legendary promoters have been quieter on the gig front, shifting their focus to larger events. The emergence of a smaller venue promoting grassroots artists and more stripped-back house and techno is a welcome addition to the scene and will help the entire scene prosper.
While, of course, the dance music scene doesn’t just exist in the cities previously mentioned, these places often serve as a good barometer for how the scene is shaping overall. It seems the current climate is working against the past headliner-driven format. While it’s important to have international acts visiting, it can’t be the only way we experience club culture. More and more, parties, clubs, and spaces are investing time and money into creating proper environments for dancing, as the best parties are generally when the room, sound system, and atmosphere take the lead.
Alongside this shift away from headliners, both new and older promoters are finding a balance. Ireland is a small place, and it can feel like generations and parties are butting heads, but it seems people are starting to come together more. As mentioned, the increasing number of people going out is benefiting scenes across the board. While it often feels like we’re on the back foot in terms of support and licensing, it does seem like we’re starting to take control of the things we can.
Photo Credits: Niall Boyle
