Max HeyraudLocal nightclubs and music venues are struggling more than ever, and the scene needs your help. We are at a crossroads in nightlife culture, both in Ireland and globally. Rent is increasing, people have less money, and costs are soaring. There are more reasons than ever not to go out, but at the same time, there are more reasons than ever why clubs are needed. But, they can’t survive without your support.
At the tail end of last year, we wrote about 6 Things We Learned From Irish Club Culture in 2024, with one vital point being that Small Clubs are Struggling. We’ve been hearing from promoters, DJs, artists, dancers, and more from across the country about how their local scenes are suffering.
Often, cities like Dublin and Belfast eclipse smaller towns such as Waterford, Carlow, Derry, Sligo, and others, all of which have traditionally healthy dance music scenes but are now struggling. The fall of Dublin’s scene is well-documented. The city has been stifled by property developers, vulture funds, and foreign investors. Beloved cultural spaces have been replaced by hotels, overpriced apartments that often sit empty, student accommodation, and more. And for what? What does Dublin have to show for the loss of its cultural soul?
Outside of the capital, venues are struggling, seriously struggling. It’s no surprise, though. People are strapped for cash, inflation is real, and what’s the first thing you cut out? Leisure, generally. The aftermath of the pandemic is still being felt in so many ways. It seems like a whole generation of regular club and venue-goers have stepped away from the dancefloor, replaced by a new cohort of dancers.
This shift has created a disconnect in how people are engaging with club culture, and smaller spaces are becoming less appealing to those newer to the scene. It’s not their fault, it’s just a cultural shift and partly an age thing. It takes time for people to discover those under-the-radar dance spaces, but time is something these venues are running out of.
A change to the licensing laws was expected in the summer of 2024, but now we’re in 2025, with a new government on the horizon and still no movement. These venues feel like they’re clutching on for dear life.
Buying a ticket, supporting a local party, exploring new sounds, and backing grassroots music are imperative to keeping the Irish dance music scene alive. Cities like Galway, Waterford, Cork and Limerick are unrecognisable in their nightlife makeup compared to pre-pandemic times. The transformative change of the pandemic and all the dead weight that comes with it has our scene by the throat. The only way to fight back and save our local venues is to support your local dancefloor before it’s too late.
This article is written in response to the overwhelming number of messages we’ve received from local venues and promoters who are struggling to make ends meet and ultimately survive.
