Max HeyraudAs we gear up for St. Patrick’s Day, a celebration of Irish culture, we asked some of our favourite artists from Ireland’s club community to share their thoughts on why Irish people have such a deep connection to club culture.
There are countless reasons why Irish people are so deeply intertwined with club culture. As a nation known for having a good time, we’ve embraced a frenzied and wild stereotype—one that isn’t always accurate but certainly holds some truth. Dancing, music, literature, and the arts are woven into the very fabric of Irish culture; it’s in our DNA. But our drive to seek out spaces where we can lose ourselves in the dark, disappearing into the deeper recesses of the dancefloor, is a more complex question—one we begin to explore here.
Irish people are extremely social, and dancefloors and club spaces are sacred because they provide a space where people can connect and express themselves freely. These spaces are especially valued in Ireland because we’ve grown up under a government with conservative values. Clubs offer an outlet where people can break free from societal constraints and truly be themselves.
Music, art and literature are a huge part of the Irish culture and I think through many years of oppression and experiencing colonialism, we used them as a way of release and to tell stories.
The idea of going clubbing, having a shared experience with a room full of like-minded people dancing to repetitive, almost hypnotic style of music is healing in itself and very cathartic.
Musically, an Irish Trad session is built around a group of people coming together with different levels of musician skills to be fully present in the moment and have a shared experience together. The music itself is made of up repetitive parts as well much the same as dance music. The bodhrán is a key instrument in the session, which, to me, mirrors the kick drum in dance music, and the drum in itself has always been a cymbal of tribalism. The beating backbone holding everything together!
The question makes me think a lot about the topic of “is dancing political” which has been circulating online a lot in the last year and half, or “is music and the dancefloor healing”. I think when we find ourselves wanting to release and reconnect with our true selves on the weekend, we open ourselves up to positive experiences with one another. This can also lead to positive conversations about our general concerns and worries within the world and our lives. Places where relationships can be nurtured and bettered will always be important to people who have an interest in clubbing.
I think Irish people in general could have a deep connection with clubbing and club culture because it’s something that has been restricted for a long time, and in modern times, we’re seeing crucial event spaces being replaced with businesses that essentially give nothing back to club culture. A scene that is ultimately passion-driven has to evolve with the times and adapt as best as possible. Because of this, I think people are generally less picky about the type of venue they want to go to and more interested in the culture that the venue can give back to them, be it international bookings or locally driven parties that are always striving for something better.
I think people in Ireland have such a strong connection to club culture as it’s not that easy to go out with our licensing laws & with how many clubs have closed over recent years. I feel that this creates more of a passion for the people who enjoy clubbing as it’s not handed to us on a plate.
Music has always been routed in Irish culture as well, which I think has part to play in why we have this passion for club culture.
I think a key reason for Ireland’s strong connection to club culture lies within its rich musical tradition. Throughout history, music in Ireland has played a central role in community and social life. Clubs provide an environment for musical expression, offering a space to explore and discover new genres while drawing inspiration from both European and global club scenes.
Similarly, clubs offer a platform for self-expression, allowing individuals to embrace individuality and creativity. They foster an environment for creativity not just through music but also in fashion, dance, and performance. This fusion creates a vibrant cultural scene that encourages innovation and artistic expression, reinforcing Ireland’s strong and enduring connection to ‘the club’.
I think everyone has their own reasons, but generally, the Irish people have historically been a creative nation that has always expressed themselves through music, storytelling, dance and poetry. Club culture, to me, is another extension of that. We see the sheer amount of talent in production and DJing coming through the ranks year after year in Ireland. The level of skill and talent we produce for such a small island is an anomaly and it’s a shame we tend to end up exporting it.
The fact that we’re such a small island also fosters a really gorgeous clubbing community, which is another reason it means so much to so many. I’ve met the majority of my mates via club culture up and down the island, and we shouldn’t take the closeness of the scene in Ireland for granted!
Club culture has also always been a form of protest no matter what country you look to in the world. Whether it’s gay and black rights in America or Thatcherism in the UK, club culture and protest go hand in hand. I think this is true of Ireland, too, in our own ways. The infantilising way we’re treated by our government with the inches we are given to have fun, makes making the most of our time in the club all the more important. Conditions can be difficult but Irish independent promoters are consistently punching well above their weight and doing totally amazing things within the limits imposed upon them. Irish clubbing is looking very positive right now.
