OTwo Co-Editor Orla Mahon reflects on the lack of support given to counter-culture nightlife spaces in Dublin
In terms of an alternative nightlife scene, it’s hard not to feel like Dublin is lacking in comparison to other European capitals.
Much of this could be explained by Dublin City Council not doing enough to support smaller nightlife spaces. In Amsterdam, for instance, many popular bars and clubs originated as squats in the 1980s and developed into cultural centres, and still today function under this counter-cultural, DIY ethos - platforming experimental artists, charging little to nothing in entry fees, and acting as a community hub. Many of these spaces are supported by the Municipality of Amsterdam, as well as protected by legislation. Likewise, in Germany, nightclubs are recognised as cultural centres, which grants them an additional level of legal protection and financial support, similar to that received by museums. This isn’t to say that maintaining a smaller venue doesn’t come with its challenges, per se, but there are supports in place to keep these important spaces alive.
In Dublin, however, the situation appears to be much more dire. With the impending closure of Unit 44 in Stoneybatter, a significant cultural venue, it’s easy to begin to feel a little hopeless. Unit 44 is a space run by the collective Kirkos, who describes the venue as “a space for music that can’t find a home anywhere else in Dublin.” With concerts from avant garde performers coming from all over the world, as well as improvisational musical workshops, the range of events that are hosted by Kirkos in Unit 44 are truly unique. Many of these events are also free entry. However, the space is being forced to close in March, after a property developer purchased the shopping centre that Unit 44 is part of. Unit 44 fulfilled the need for an experimental, counter-cultural venue, and its absence will be felt by many people. Kirkos directly cites the lack of support from the government as a reason as to why spaces like Unit 44 are such a rarity - in their statement regarding the closure, the collective states that there exists “systemic problems regarding arts infrastructure and a lack of proactivity and engagement from funding bodies and city councils.”
Despite a severe lack of financial support, or perhaps in response to it, there still exists alternative nightlife venues in Dublin - they’ve just had to forge their own model for funding. One such of these spaces is Daylight in Glasnevin, a member-funded social centre. Daylight hosts events ranging from experimental performances to community dinners. Its funding system is unique - members donate to the maintenance of the space through Patreon. Daylight offers Dublin’s subculture scene a home. Yet there does remain the question of how viable crowdfunding models like this can be in the long term. The onus should not be placed on creatives to continuously fight just to stay afloat. Dublin City Council must do more to protect its counter-cultural nightlife scene - or risk it crumbling under financial pressures.