Tengu, Wigwam, and Dali Among Nightclubs Sharing €500K Grassroots Music Fund

The government has announced a major funding boost for small music venues, with €500,000 allocated to support the country’s grassroots scene. Thirty-three venues, including some of Ireland’s most respected nightclubs and live spaces, are receiving grants of up to €15,000 each.

The Grassroots Music Venues Support Scheme, launched as part of the government’s Night-Time Economy plan, aims to help small venues continue to book emerging artists, especially those performing original music. The funding is also intended to support crews, sound and lighting engineers, promoters, and other behind-the-scenes workers who keep these venues running.

This funding arrives at a time when many smaller venues are struggling to stay open due to rising costs, insurance pressures, and ongoing challenges in the night-time sector. Advocates see the scheme as a welcome step toward recognising the cultural and economic value of grassroots and club spaces.

“This funding is about more than lights and stages,” said Minister Patrick O’Donovan, T.D. “It’s about making sure early-career musicians have somewhere to play—and be heard.”

He continued, “I look forward to seeing the diversity of genre and talent that will reach new audiences as a result of this funding over the months ahead. I’d also encourage music lovers from across the country to embrace the resource of their local venue and support artists in the early stages of their careers.”

The full list of funded venues includes: Arthur’s Pub (Dublin 8), Bank Lane (Waterford City), Billy Byrne’s (Kilkenny City), Cleary’s Bar (Newcastle West, Limerick), Connolly’s of Leap (Leap, Cork), Coughlan’s Bar (Cork City), Dali (Cork City), DeBarra’s Folk Club (Clonakilty, Cork), Dolans (Limerick City), Hen’s Teeth (Dublin 8), John Cleere’s Bar & Theatre (Kilkenny City), John Lee’s Bar (Tullamore, Offaly), Kavanagh’s Bar and Venue (Portlaoise, Laois), Kenny’s Bar (Lahinch, Clare), Langton’s Set Theatre (Kilkenny City), Levis’ Bar (Ballydehob, Cork), McHugh’s (Drogheda, Louth), Mike the Pies (Listowel, Kerry), Mo Chara (Dundalk, Louth), Pot Duggans (Ennistymon, Clare), Róisín Dubh (Galway City), Sin É (Dublin 7), Spirit Store (Dundalk, Louth), Tengu (Dublin 1), The Attic (Doolin, Clare), The Bernard Shaw (Dublin 9), The Commercial Bar (Limerick City), The Cornerstone (Woodford, Galway), The Grand Social (Dublin 1), The Lighthouse (Dún Laoghaire, Dublin), The Soundhouse (Dublin 1), The White Horse (Ballincollig, Cork), and Wigwam (Dublin 1).