With the announcement that Copper Face Jacks is to be sold we decided to take a look at the current state of Irish nightlife and how policy makers continue to disregard club culture and it’s potential as a night-time economy.
At some point between 1711 and 1776 Scottish philosopher, economist, essayist, and historian David Hume wrote that ‘Beauty exists in the mind that contemplates it’: Different strokes for different folks, each to their own buzz, one size doesn’t actually fit all… you get the point. In a Four/Four context, not everybody is a fan of Techno, or House, or any other electronic genre under the sun.
The city’s dance clubs could run well past 3:00am if lawmakers wanted them to. What this ultimately boils down to is values. Do we value establishments whose sole focus is maintaining pathetic and insulting Irish stereotypes or do we value venues that contribute to the cultural development of Dublin, its scenes, its population, and those who come from abroad? Let’s stop portraying ourselves as Guinness guzzling leprechauns who want nothing more than cheap drinks and sloppy shifting sessions. I sometimes wonder which of the two approaches gains us more admiration from those we are (apparently) trying to impress.
Like we said: It all comes down to values. Do we value culture or do we value cheap stereotyping that allows us to make a ‘quick buck’? The government is supposed to represent us. We’re complex, so stop selling us out…
Be nice. We’re all adults. Nobody likes being told what to do. Trust people – They’ll return the favour with respect.
Make sure to follow Give Us The Night, a group of like-minded individuals who are actively campaigning for a better future for Irish nightlife. Check them out here
Words by James Kenny