The Steady Decline of Club Culture in Dublin

Neoliberal Policy, Touristification and the Pandemic

Abstract

The public health restrictions implemented by the Irish government due to Covid-19 resulted in one of the most extensive music industry lockdowns in Europe. Dublin, however, was already experiencing a large scale contraction of club culture. Prior to the pandemic, the physical spaces that dance music and club culture thrived in over the past 40 years had greatly diminished, many being demolished to make way for hotels and upmarket student accommodation. The onset of the pandemic meant this contraction intensified, and 2021 and 2022 saw the permanent closure of a number of high-profile and pivotal venues across the city. In discussing the effects of touristification and the pandemic on dedicated dancing spaces in Dublin, I contend that the underlying neoliberal government policies and outdated restrictive licensing laws have profoundly and detrimentally shaped the current clubbing landscape. The article explores the efforts of activist groups and grassroots campaigns, illustrating how the community has sought to reclaim space and mitigate the looming threat of decline. It specifically highlights campaigns for legislative reform and efforts to persuade policymakers that Dublin needs “No more Hotels” and “clubbing is culture”. The concluding section of the article assesses the outlook for Dublin's clubbing community and proposes avenues for future research.